Shugo were placed in each province as the local official of the bakufu and their duties involved Taibon Sankajo (three major tasks of peacekeeping), which was mainly composed of maintaining domestic security and Obanyaku (job to guard Kyoto), while jito were placed in each manor as tax collection officers.
地頭が徴税人として荘園ごとに置かれたのに対し、守護は幕府の地方官として令制国ごとに置かれ、国内の治安維持と大番役を柱とする大犯三箇条がその任務であった。