After the death of Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA, a civilian group composed of the families who had served as bugyo within the former Kamakura bakufu, along with families of hereditary vassals of the Ashikaga Shogun family organized the Bugyo-shu, from which it was regularly practiced to elect bugyo.
足利義満の死後、旧鎌倉幕府以来の奉行の家柄や足利将軍家の譜代家臣の家柄から構成された文官集団である奉行衆（ぶぎょうしゅう）が組織され、そこから奉行人が選出されるのが定例となった。