The Tandai was considered the most important post following shikken (regent for shogun) and rensho (assistant to shikken), and traditionally, one person each was chosen for Kitakata and Minamikata from the Hojo clan to perform government affairs.
探題は執権・連署に次ぐ重職とされ、伝統的に北条氏から北方・南方の各一名が選ばれて政務に当たった。