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TheGovernment of the Soviet Union (Russian:Правительство СССР,Pravitel'stvo SSSR), formally theAll-Union Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, commonly abbreviated toSoviet Government, was the main executive institution of government in the formerSoviet Union. It was led by a chairman, but the office was commonly referred to asPremier of the Soviet Union. The premier was nominated by theCentral Committee of theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) at the 1st Plenary Session of theSupreme Soviet of the Soviet Union in the aftermath ofnational elections. Certain governments, such as Ryzhkov's II, had more than 100 other government members, serving asfirst deputy premiers,deputy premiers,government ministers or heads ofstate committees/commissions; they were chosen by the premier and confirmed by the Supreme Soviet. The Government of the Soviet Union exercised its executive powers in conformity with theconstitution of the Soviet Union and legislation enacted by the Supreme Soviet. Thefirst government was led byVladimir Lenin, and thelast government was led byIvan Silayev.

Following theTreaty on the Creation of the USSR of 1922, theRussian Soviet Socialist Federative Republic,Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic, theByelorussian Socialist Soviet Republic and theTranscaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The treaty established the government, which was later legitimised by the adoption of thefirst Soviet constitution in 1924. The 1924 constitution made the government responsible to theCongress of Soviets of the Soviet Union. In 1936, the state system was reformed with the enactment ofa new constitution. It abolished the Congress of Soviets and established the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union in its place. At the 1st Plenary Session of the II Supreme Soviet in 1946 the government was renamed Council of Ministers. Minor changes were introduced with the enactment of the1977 constitution. The CPSU's19th All-Union Conference voted in favor of amending the constitution. It allowed for multi-candidate elections, established theCongress of People's Deputies and weakened the party's control over the Supreme Soviet. Later on 20 March 1991 the Supreme Soviet onMikhail Gorbachev's suggestion amended the constitution to establish a presidential system. The Council of Ministers was abolished and replaced by aCabinet of Ministers that was responsible to thePresident of the Soviet Union. The head of the Cabinet of Ministers was the Prime Minister of the Soviet Union. The government was forced to resign in the aftermath of the1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, in which Prime MinisterValentin Pavlov participated in. In its place the Soviet state established what was supposed to be a transitory committee headed by Silayev to run the basic governmental functions until a new cabinet was appointed. On 26 December 1991 the Supreme Soviet dissolved the Soviet Union and therefore, the government of the Soviet Union.

• Bibliography of the Russian Revolution and Civil War § Government
• Bibliography of Stalinism and the Soviet Union § Government
• Bibliography of the Post Stalinist Soviet Union § Government
• Premier of the Soviet Union

• Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 1917–1964 and1964–1991

• Soviet governments
• Lists of governments
• Lists of national cabinets

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles containing Russian-language text