Of the New Meiji Government, there were three virtual saisho (prime minister), Takayoshi KIDO proposed the Constitution of 1868 as a full-time advisor to the General Bureau in 1868 and contributed to structuring the frame of the new government and state system through "kanri kosen (public election of government officials)", sangi naikaku sei (councilor cabinet system), Takamori SAIGO led the government and carried out remaining various policies such as shimin byodo (equality of all people) while some of highest ranks of governments were away on inspection trip to America and Europe (Iwakura Mission), Toshimichi OKUBO began to reign as if Otto von Bismarck after the Meiji roku-nen no Seihen (the political change in 1873, starting from disputes over Seikanron (debate on subjugation of Korea)).
明治新政府内では、明治元年（1868年）、総裁局顧問専任として政体書を建言し「官吏公選」や参議内閣制など新政府と新国家の骨格作りに尽力し続けた木戸孝允が実質的な初代宰相に相当し、留守政府を預かって四民平等など残されていた諸施策を断行した西郷隆盛が第二代宰相に相当し、明治六年政変以後ビスマルク然と君臨し始めた大久保利通が実質的な第三代宰相に相当する。