In Dajokan days, (although there were only few actual cases,) the Emperor could attend cabinet meetings basically anytime he wished and was free to say his opinion, but the Article 1 confirmed that the Emperor would not attend the cabinet meeting unless requested by the Prime Minister and recognized the Prime Minister as the host of the cabinet meeting.
第1条では、太政官時代には（実際の事例は少ないものの）原則として天皇はいつでも閣議に臨御して自由に意見を述べることが出来たが、今後は総理大臣の要請がない限りは閣議には加わらないことになり、総理大臣が閣議の主宰者であることを確認した。