探討皇權運作方式，是目前研究宋代君主權力與專制體制的重要取徑。在宋代，皇帝通常將日常行政事務委任於宰相，而責其成效。宰相任免，作為這種「委任責成」關係的開端和終點，是我們考察宋代皇權運作方式很好的切入點。抽象的權力運作方式，其實就體現於日常具體的政務運行與文書處理活動之中。因此，本文透過宰相任免來觀察宋代皇權的運作方式，就從相關文書運行環節的復原與討論入手。宋代拜相不再舉行冊禮，與頒布、下達宰相任免命令有關的文書形式主要有麻制、官告與敕牒三種，其中尤以翰林學士負責起草的麻制最為關鍵。本文將宋代皇帝依靠學士院任免宰相的文書程序，分為「宣召諭旨」、「鎖院草制」、「朝堂宣麻」三大環節，分別予以梳理，同時也試著闡釋相關程序與制度對於維護、鞏固宋代皇權的實際意義。最後，在上述討論的基礎上，談談關於宋代皇權運作方式的一些認識。

In the Song dynasty, the emperor delegated daily administrative affairs to his chief ministers, and took responsibility for their effectiveness. The appointment and dismissal of chief ministers is therefore a good starting point in examining the way that imperial authority was exercised in the Song. This article will mainly focus on the procedures for appointing and dismissing chief ministers by surveying a type of official document drafted by Hanlin翰林 academicians called mazhi 麻制, or hemp paper edicts. The article will argue that this system and procedures were significant to the consolidation and maintenance of imperial authority. Finally, building on the above foundation, the article will discuss the way imperial authority was exercised in the Song dynasty.