It was a declaration to abolish the Edo Shogunate and to establish a new Imperial government; more specifically, (1) abolishment of sekkan-seido (a system of regents and advisors), (2) imperial consent to Yoshinobu's resignation of Shogunate, (3) abolishment of the Edo Shogunate, and (4) appointment to the posts of three new offices, namely sosai (president), gijo (official post) and sanyo (councilor).
内容は(1)摂関制度（摂政・関白）の廃止(2)（慶喜の）将軍職辞職を勅許(3)江戸幕府の廃止(4)（新たに）総裁、議定、参与の三職をおくというもので、江戸幕府の廃絶と、天皇による新政府の成立を宣言するものであった。