Photograph from the time of establishment of the Rikken Seiyukai (October 3, 1900 (Meiji 33)) From "Rikken Seiyukaishi Vol.1"

ITO Hirobumi had mulled over the formation of a new party, to be composed mainly of his supporters from among the government bureaucrats, with support from the urban commercial-industrial interests. At the same time, the Constitutional Party with Hoshi Toru as the key figure, as well as powerful figures in the government from the Satsuma-Choshu clique, were exploring ways to join the government. Both those groups joined hands to form the "Rikken Seiyukai" ('Associating of Friends of the Constitutional Government') on 15 September 1900 (Meiji 33). More than 1,400 people participated in the inaugural ceremony, with a million persons joining the Association.

This document represents a draft copy of the Rikken Seiyukai's By Laws, and is believed to have come from ITO Hirobumi and ITO Miyoji, both of whom were involved in drawing it up. Ito labeled the group a "kai" (association) rather than a "to" (party), as he wanted to get away from the image of a traditional political party. To attract a broader base of support, moreover, he tried to turn the organization's format into a kind of club, but that did not seem to have much effect.