It was formed on 10 February 1849, 66 days after Manuel Isidoro Belzu was installed as the 11th president of Bolivia following a coup d'état, succeeding the Fourth Velasco Cabinet.

It was dissolved on 15 August 1855 upon the end of Belzu's term and was succeeded by the Cabinet of Jorge Córdova.

Due to various circumstances during Belzu's rule, the four ministries were reunited into a single General Secretariat during which time the minister of the interior was charged with executing all ministerial portfolios.

The most prolific member of this cabinet was Rafael Bustillo who served a total of six different times, switching between the public instruction and finance portfolios.

His longest single term was spent as minister of finance, lasting 822 days between 9 June 1849 and 9 September 1851.