These influential Shugo would often spend continuous stretches in Kyoto to serve the Shogunate, and when they were away from their fiefs, or controlling several provinces, a Kokujin was made a deputy of the Shugo, or Shugodai (deputy of Shugo, provincial constable) was chosen out of their direct vassals.
これら有力守護は、幕府に出仕するため継続して在京することが多く、領国を離れる場合や、多くの分国を抱える場合などに、国人を守護の代官としたり、直属家臣の中から守護代を置いた。