Every prime minister since the communist seizure of power on 2 December 1975 has been a member of the LPRP Central Committee and the party's Politburo.

Laos' first head of government was Phetsarath Ratanavongsa, who was appointed Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang on 15 August 1941.

[3] The Constitution of the Kingdom of Laos was enacted on 28 April 1947 by the Constituent Assembly, and was promulgated by royal decree on 11 May 1947.

[7] The NCPR also gave the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) a monopoly on state power.

"[10] According to scholar Chou Norindr, the political system made the government and legislature subordinate to the party.

This contrasts with liberal democratic societies, in which several parties compete for power and all are subject to state laws.

[12] The council was responsible for the political, economic, cultural and social affairs of the state, and its security, defence and foreign relations.

[13] It was also responsible for increasing the state's economic performance, developing collective power and establishing a socialist mode of production.

[12] Kaysone Phomvihane, the first prime minister of the Lao PDR, also served as LPRP general secretary and a member of the Politburo and Secretariat.

[12] His four deputy prime ministers (Nouhak Phoumsavanh, Phoumi Vongvichit, Khamtai Siphandon and Phoune Sipraseuth) served concurrently in the LPRP Politburo, the highest decision-making body between Central Committee meetings.

[15] The presidency of the Council of Government, the highest governmental body, was composed of the prime minister, his deputies, and Saly Vongkhamsao, Sisavath Keobounphanh, Chanmy Douangboudy, Maychantane Sengmany and Thongsavat Khaykhamphitoune.

[17] The assembly passed the Law on the Council of Government,[7] which stated that the Council of Government has the "full power to settle all matters of state management which do not fall under the duties and rights of the Supreme People's Assembly and the SPA Standing Committee", in November 1982.

[18] It intended to strengthen the body's collegiality by emphasising collective leadership, a communist leadership principle which seeks to minimise arbitrary decision-making; "representatives of trade unions, youth and women may be invited" to the meetings of the Council of Government "for consultation on problems involving the masses of all strata to which each organisation is responsible".

[24] Laos, influenced by reforms in Vietnam and the rest of the socialist world by the mid-1980s, called for SPA elections in 1988.

[26] The prime minister was responsible for guiding the work of government ministries, committees, provincial governors and mayors.

[32] According to Article 3, "The government operates on a principle of democratic centralism based on the Constitution and laws, having the Lao People's Revolutionary Party as the axle and having the Lao Front for National Construction, the mass organisations and the social organisations as the power [and] uses educational, economic, and administrative methods to manage the State and to manage the society and economy";[33] the prime minister and the government are selected on the premise that they implement party decisions.

[12][27] No LPRP General Secretary has concurrently served as prime minister since 1998 (except during leadership transitions), opting instead to hold the presidency.

[40] No government official can hold an office for more than two consecutive terms, and an individual can serve as prime minister for ten years.

[40] The government can establish socioeconomic plans and a state budget, submitting them to the National Assembly for consideration.

[40] With National Assembly approval, the government can establish, consolidate, separate and liquidate ministries, ministerial bodies, provinces and cities.

[40] The government can recommend establishing, merging, separating or abolishing a sub-ministry, department or department-level body.

[40] It is empowered to control and monitor organisations, local administrative bodies, and defence and security forces to safeguard the constitution, laws and regulations.

[40] The government is responsible for the equal protection of its citizens, and has the right to make, enter into, interpret and implement international treaties.

[40] The prime minister directs and monitors the implementation of resolutions, the five-year plan, the state budget, and regulations approved by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.