The first students dispatched abroad by the Tokugawa shogunate, in 1862 (Bunkyu 2). NISHI Amane stands at far right. From "Bakumatsu Meika Shashinshu" ("NDL Digital Collections")

The Draft of Discussion Topics (Gidai Soan) was a memorandum submitted to HIRAYAMA Yoshitada, advisor to Shogun TOKUGAWA Yoshinobu, by NISHI Amane, professor at the Shogunate's Kaiseijo, the Institute of Western Studies. Amidst the clamor for the establishment of a parliamentary system of government, NISHI proposed that the shogunate adopt the policy of establishing a council system after the Taisei Hokan (restoration of political power to the Emperor) that took place on November 9, 1867 (Keio 3).

The Annex to Draft of Discussion Topics (Besshi Gidai Soan), a proposal for a system of government centered on the Tokugawa family, was drawn up on the basis of the aforementioned document. It involved the introduction of separation of powers following the example of Western governments, with the administrative authority to be held by the shogun, the judicial authority (for the sake of expedience) by each of the domains, and the legislative authority by an assembly (giseiin) composed of the daimyo and samurai from each of the respective domains. The Emperor was to have symbolic status. However, on January 3, 1868, a grand edict was issued for Osei Fukko (Restoration of Imperial Rule), establishing the new Meiji government centered on the imperial court, rendering the political system outlined in the draft moot.