Stalin's first government was created on 7 May 1941 and was dissolved on 15 March 1946, with the creation of Stalin's second government. It was the government throughout the Great Patriotic War.

Stalin's second government was formally constituted on March 19, 1946, with Joseph Stalin at the helm as the head of government and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union, this cabinet was inaugurated through a decree of the second convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union issued earlier on March 15, 1946. This decree also signified the renaming of the Council of People's Commissars to the Council of Ministers.