明代的条例与宋代的条例、断例和元代的条格、断例有类似之处,并在其基础上有所发展。重视制例,律例并行,于明太祖朱元璋执政的洪武朝已开其端。永乐及以后各朝沿相编例,从未中断。仁宗、宣宗、英宗、景帝即位时均曾颁诏,将前朝所定事例、条例革去,故这几朝颁行的定例已不多见。宪宗以后,新定的例辅律而行。当时已有人将成化、弘治两朝的定例案牍全文抄 The regulations in the Ming Dynasty had similarities with the ordinances, the examples in the Song Dynasty and the strips and the cases in the Yuan Dynasty, and developed on the basis of them. Emphasis on the system of legislation, parallel laws and regulations, Yu Mingzhu Zhu Yuanzhang ruling Hongwu Dynasty has opened its doors. Forever and after each phase along the phase of the example, never stopped. Renzong, Xuanzong, Yingzong, king emperor ascended the throne have issued an edict, the former case of the prescribed order, the Ordinance to get rid of, so these few orders issued by the Executive has been rare. After the constitutional case, the new set of examples of auxiliary line. At that time, some people would become Chenghua, Hongzhi two cases of decree case copy