The Revolution of 1911 brought down the Qing Dynasty and led to the founding of the Republic of China in 1912. The Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China, enacted under the auspices of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Interim President, stipulated that Tibet was one of the 22 provinces of the Republic of China. Stipulations concerning Tibet in the Constitution of the Republic of China promulgated later all stressed that Tibet is an inseparable part of Chinese territory.

In July 1912, the Nationalist government established the Council for the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs (renamed the Council of Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs in May 1914). Officials were appointed to take over the functions of the Qing High commissioners in Tibet. When the Nanjing government was founded, the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs was renamed the Commision for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs in 1929. In April 1940, the Commision set up its Lhasa Office which functioned as a Central Government organ in Tibet.

Historical records show the Dalai Lama, the local government of Tibet and Panchen Erdeni sent representatives to attend various National Assembly meetings, national government organizations or various national congresses; and many of them were elected to work in these national government organizations, making it possible for them to have a say in government affairs.