Russian Council of Ministers
Encyclopedia
The Russian Council of Ministers is an executive governmental body that brings together the principal officers of the Executive Branch of the Russia
n government.
. The Committee was an advisory board for the Emperor but could only consider matters referred to it by the monarch or when details for implementation of policy were brought to it by ministers. However, the Committee had little collective power and did not make decisions, just recommendations. When the monarch presided personally over Committee meetings it was referred to as a council as the monarch had decision/policy making authority that the committee did not possess.
of 1905 granting civil liberties and a national legislature (Duma
and a reformed State Council
), the Committee was replaced with a Council of Ministers. Unlike the Committee of Ministers, this council was presided over by a Chairman (Совет министров) besides the Emperor, and functioned as a policy making cabinet
with its Chairman acting as Prime Minister
(head) of the government. As a result, from 1905-1917 the Council of Ministers collectively decided the government's policy, tactical direction, and served as a buffer between the Emperor and the national legislature.
(CPSU) fixed in Stalin Constitution of 1936
, the governments were little more than the executive bodies of the Central Committee of the CPSU. The leading role was also fixed in Soviet Constitution of 1977
and was not overruled until 1991.
the Russian Council of Ministers became the chief body of administration for the President of the Russian Federation. At times it consisted of as many as 60 ministries and state committees and up to 12 Vice-Premiers. After the 2004 reform, Government duties were split between 17 Ministries, 7 Federal Services and over 30 governmental Agencies.
The Prime Minister
is appointed by the President of the Russian Federation
and confirmed by the State Duma
. The Chairman is second in line to succeed to the Presidency of Russia if the current President dies, is incapacitated or resigns.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n government.
Committee of Ministers
The Ministries and the Committee of Ministers (Комитет Министров) were created in the early 19th century as part of the Government reform of Alexander IGovernment reform of Alexander I
The early Russian system of government instituted by Peter the Great, which consisted of various state committees, each named Collegium with subordinate departments named Prikaz, was largely outdated by the 19th century...
. The Committee was an advisory board for the Emperor but could only consider matters referred to it by the monarch or when details for implementation of policy were brought to it by ministers. However, the Committee had little collective power and did not make decisions, just recommendations. When the monarch presided personally over Committee meetings it was referred to as a council as the monarch had decision/policy making authority that the committee did not possess.
Chairmen of the committee of Ministers (de facto), 1802 – 1810
- Alexander Romanovich Vorontsov (1802–1804) as Imperial Chancellor and Foreign Minister
- Adam Jerzy CzartoryskiAdam Jerzy CzartoryskiPrince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski was a Polish-Lithuanian noble, statesman and author. He was the son of Prince Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski and Izabela Fleming....
(1804–1806) as Foreign Minister - Andrei Yakovlevich BudbergAndrei BudbergCount Andrei Yakovlevich Budberg was a Russian diplomat who served as Foreign Minister in 1806-07.His ancestors moved to Livonia in the 16th century from Westphalia. Budberg was born in Riga and entered the military service in 1759. He participated in the Russo-Turkish war 1768-1774. In 1783...
(1806–1807) as Foreign Minister - Nikolay Petrovich Rumyantsev (1807–1810) as Foreign Minister
Chairmen of the committee of Ministers, 1810 – 1905
- Nikolay Petrovich Rumyantsev (1810–1812)
- Nikolay Ivanovich SaltykovNikolay SaltykovCount Nikolay Ivanovich Saltykov , a member of the Saltykov royal family, was a Russian Field Marshal and imperial courtier....
(1812–1816) - Pyotr Vasilyevich LopukhinPyotr Vasilyevich LopukhinPyotr Vasilyevich Lopukhin was a Russian politician. He was president of the Council of Ministers from 1816 to 1827.-Marriage and issue:He married twice:...
(1816–1827) - Viktor Pavlovich Kochubey (1827–1834)
- Nikolay Nikolayevich NovosiltsevNikolay Nikolayevich NovosiltsevCount Nikolay Nikolayevich Novosiltsev was a Russian statesman and a close aide to Alexander I of Russia.He was a natural son of a wealthy nobleman, married to the aunt of Count Pavel Stroganov. This relationship secured for him a place in the Privy Committee that outlined the Government reform...
(1834–1838) - Illarion Vasilyevich Vasilchikov (1838–1847)
- Vasily Vasilyevich Levashov (1847–1848)
- Aleksandr Ivanovich Chernyshov (1848–1856)
- Aleksey Fyodorovich OrlovOrlovOrlov is the name of a Russian noble family which produced several distinguished statesmen, diplomatists and soldiers. The family first gained distinction in the person of four Orlov brothers, of whom the senior was Catherine the Great's paramour, and the two junior were notable military...
(1856–1861) - Dmitry Nikolayevich Bludov (1861–1864)
- Pavel Pavlovich Gagarin (1865–1872)
- Nikolay Pavlovich Ignatyev (1872–1879)
- Pyotr Aleksandrovich Valuyev (1879–1881)
- Mikhail Khristoforovich Reutern (1881–1887)
- Nikolai Khristianovich BungeNikolay BungeNikolai Khristianovich Bunge was the preeminent architect of Russian capitalism under Alexander III. He was a distinguished economist, statesman, and academician of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences....
(1887–1895) - Ivan Nikolayevich DurnovoIvan Nikolayevich DurnovoIvan Nikolayevich Durnovo was a Russian political figure. He served as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers between 1895 and 1903, the precursor to the post of prime minister.- Biography :...
(1895–1903) - Sergei Yulyevich Witte (1903–1905)
Council of Ministers
After Nicholas II issued the October ManifestoOctober Manifesto
The October Manifesto was issued on 17 October, 1905 by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia under the influence of Count Sergei Witte as a response to the Russian Revolution of 1905....
of 1905 granting civil liberties and a national legislature (Duma
Duma
A Duma is any of various representative assemblies in modern Russia and Russian history. The State Duma in the Russian Empire and Russian Federation corresponds to the lower house of the parliament. Simply it is a form of Russian governmental institution, that was formed during the reign of the...
and a reformed State Council
State Council of Imperial Russia
The State Council was the supreme state advisory body to the Tsar in Imperial Russia.-18th century:Early Tsars' Councils were small and dealt primarily with the external politics....
), the Committee was replaced with a Council of Ministers. Unlike the Committee of Ministers, this council was presided over by a Chairman (Совет министров) besides the Emperor, and functioned as a policy making cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
with its Chairman acting as Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
(head) of the government. As a result, from 1905-1917 the Council of Ministers collectively decided the government's policy, tactical direction, and served as a buffer between the Emperor and the national legislature.
Soviet Russia
The Sovnarkom of the RSFSR was the basis for all Soviet governments, including both Union and republican levels, until 1946, when all of the Sovnarkoms were renamed Council of Ministers. With the leading role of the Communist Party of the Soviet UnionCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
(CPSU) fixed in Stalin Constitution of 1936
1936 Soviet Constitution
The 1936 Soviet constitution, adopted on December 5, 1936, and also known as the "Stalin" constitution, redesigned the government of the Soviet Union.- Basic provisions :...
, the governments were little more than the executive bodies of the Central Committee of the CPSU. The leading role was also fixed in Soviet Constitution of 1977
1977 Soviet Constitution
At the Seventh Session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Ninth Convocation on October 7, 1977, the third and last Soviet Constitution, also known as the "Brezhnev Constitution", was unanimously adopted...
and was not overruled until 1991.
Russian Federation
After the fall of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
the Russian Council of Ministers became the chief body of administration for the President of the Russian Federation. At times it consisted of as many as 60 ministries and state committees and up to 12 Vice-Premiers. After the 2004 reform, Government duties were split between 17 Ministries, 7 Federal Services and over 30 governmental Agencies.
The Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Russia
The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation The use of the term "Prime Minister" is strictly informal and is not allowed for by the Russian Constitution and other laws....
is appointed by the President of the Russian Federation
President of the Russian Federation
The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Russian Federation...
and confirmed by the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
. The Chairman is second in line to succeed to the Presidency of Russia if the current President dies, is incapacitated or resigns.
See also
- Premier of the Soviet UnionPremier of the Soviet UnionThe office of Premier of the Soviet Union was synonymous with head of government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics . Twelve individuals have been premier...
- Prime Minister of RussiaPrime Minister of RussiaThe Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation The use of the term "Prime Minister" is strictly informal and is not allowed for by the Russian Constitution and other laws....