Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire

The Council of Ministers of the Russian Empire was the highest group that helped make big decisions for the Russian Empire. It was created by a special order on October 19, 1905. Its job was to organize and bring together the work of many important leaders in different areas of the government.

Before 1905, there was an earlier group with the same name. It started in 1861 and was led by the emperor himself. This group met only when needed and talked about matters that needed the emperor's attention.

The Council of Ministers stopped existing after the February Revolution of 1917, when it was replaced by the Provisional Government.

Composition

The Council of Ministers was led by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Council of Ministers in the Tsar's Headquarters, Baranavichy station, June 14, 1915. In the first row (left to right): • State Comptroller, Peter Kharitonov; • Supreme Commander of the Imperial Russian Army, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich; • Emperor Nicholas II; • Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Ivan Goremykin (also Prime Minister); • Minister of the Imperial Court and Destinies, Adjutant General Count Vladimir Frederiks. In the second row (left to right): • Minister of Internal Affairs, Prince Nikolay Shcherbatov; • Minister of Railways, Sergey Rukhlov; • Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Sazonov; • Chief Administrative Officer of Land Management and Agriculture, Alexander Krivoshein; • Minister of Finance, Pyotr Bark; • Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command, General Nikolay Yanushkevich; • Minister of War, General Alexey Polivanov; • Minister of Trade and Industry, Prince Vsevolod Shakhovskoy

The Council of Ministers had many important members, including:

Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Finance
Minister of Ways of Communication
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Justice
Minister of Navy
Minister of War
Minister of Education
Minister of the Imperial Court
Maritime Minister
Minister of Commerce and Industry
Minister of Agriculture (until 1915 – Chief Governor of Agriculture and Land Management)
State Comptroller
Ober-Prosecutor of the Holy Synod

and others.

Chairmen of the Council of Ministers

First period

Alexander II (1857–1881)

Second period

Sergei Witte (October 19, 1905 – April 22, 1906)
Ivan Goremykin (April 22 – July 8, 1906)
Pyotr Stolypin (July 8, 1906 – September 1, 1911)
Vladimir Kokovtsov (September 11, 1911 – January 30, 1914)
Ivan Goremykin, again (January 30, 1914 – January 20, 1916)
Boris Stürmer (January 20 – November 10, 1916)
Alexander Trepov (November 10 – December 27, 1916)
Nikolai Golitsyn (December 27, 1916 – February 27, 1917)

History

On November 24, 1861, Russia created a group called the Council of Ministers. This group gave advice on important government matters. The emperor chaired these meetings and could bring up any topic he chose. Ministers shared their reports with the Council, but the group did not have its own office. Meetings happened only when the emperor decided, and they stopped after December 23, 1882.

Later, on November 1, 1905, the Council of Ministers started working again because of a decree by Nicholas II. This time, it aimed to bring unity to the work of different government departments. The Council now included many important ministers, such as those for internal affairs, finance, and justice. Instead of the emperor leading, a minister chosen by the emperor chaired the meetings. The Council met regularly, several times a week.

The Council handled many jobs, like preparing laws for the State Duma and discussing important government plans. It also managed some parts of the state budget. The Council stopped working on March 12, 1917, during the February Revolution, and its role was taken over by the Provisional Government.