In 1900, the second Yamagata Cabinet revised the Department of War regulation and the Department of the Navy regulation, and determined that a 'minister (lieutenant general)' and 'a candidate appointed as War Minister and the Secretary shall be an active general' (appended table, appendix).
1900年（明治33年）、第2次山縣内閣は、陸軍省官制および海軍省官制を改正し、「大臣（大中将）」、「陸軍大臣及総務長官ニ任セラルルモノハ現役将官ヲ以テス」と定めた（附表、別表）。