The Cabinet of Ministers was the supreme state body established on November 4, 1731, by the decree[1] of Empress Anna Ioannovna.

On December 23, 1741,[2] after the accession of Elizabeth Petrovna, it lost its powers and was transformed into the Personal Office of the Empress.

Shortly after the abolition of the Privy Council, Anna Ioannovna, by a decree[1] of November 17, 1731, established the Cabinet of Ministers.

Even so, for the best and most honorable administration of all state affairs to our own all-gracious decision of the subject, and for the benefit of the state and our loyal subjects, we wanted to establish at the court of our Cabinet, and determine from the ministers of our Chancellor Count Golovkin, Vice-Chancellor Ostermann, Actual Privy Councilor of Prince Cherkassky, moreover, for the sake of this, we declare it the most gracious.In 1735 a decree was issued, which the signature of the three cabinet ministers equated to the Imperial signature.

In its new form, the Cabinet did not exist for long: following the accession of Elizaveta Petrovna to the Throne, it was abolished by a decree: "On the restoration of the internal state bodies; on the composition of the register, the decree of the former kingdoms, which the use of the State is repugnant of; the destruction of the former Cabinet, and the installation of the new at the Court of Her Imperial Majesty; the establishment in the Governorate Prosecutor, the scope of which is defined for management by the foreign staff of the Chancellor" of December 23, 1741.