The Council of People's Commissars of the USS.R.

The name used for the Soviet government, as the highest executive and administrative organ of the Soviet state. The 1936 Constitution of the Soviet Union clearly stipulated that the highest executive and administrative organ of the USS.R. was the Council of People's Commissars. In February 1946, the first meeting of the Supreme Soviet of the USS.R. decided to change the former name of the Soviet government, i.e., the Council of People's Commissars, to the Council of Ministers of the USS.R.. The Supreme Soviet of the USS.R. consists of two chambers: the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities.

The Council of Ministers of the USS.R. would be appointed by the joint meeting of the of the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities and would be is responsible to the Supreme Soviet of the USS.R. and accountable to it. During the period between convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USS.R., the Council of Ministers would be accountable to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.

The functions and tasks of the Council of Ministers of the USS.R. included: issuing resolutions, orders and decrees in accordance with the constitution; safeguarding the interests of state, socialist property, public order and to protect the rights of Soviet citizens, ensuring state security, leading and realizing the national economic budget and national economic plan, strengthening credit and monetary system; guiding the building of state's military capabilities, implementing general policies concerning Soviet foreign relations and diplomatic activities.

The Council of Ministers of the USS.R. has one Chairman (Premier) and several First Deputy Chairmen. It has the duty to create necessary organizations within the Council of Ministers concerning economics, socio-cultural development and defense and appoint its cadres. Each of the Federal republics within the USS.R. has its own Council of Ministers, which is appointed by the Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic.