Prior to the Meiji Restoration the regents carried out most of the emperor's governmental affairs, such as writing imperial edicts, conferring ranks and making appointments, and their power was nearly the same as that of the emperor.
明治維新以前の摂政は、詔書の代筆、叙位・任官の施行など、天皇の行う政務のほとんど全てを代行し、その権限はほとんど天皇とかわりなかった。