The title of the head of government was President of the Ministerial Council (Предсједник Министарског савјета).

During both the principality and the kingdom, the office was of no major importance or influence but depended solely on the will of the sovereign Nikola I.

After the capitulation of Montenegro to the Central Powers on 15 January 1916, during World War I, the government went into exile and remained abroad until it ceased to exist.

After the decision of the Podgorica Assembly on 26 November 1918, to unify Montenegro with Serbia and the subsequent formation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Stojan Protić became the prime minister of the newly formed Kingdom on 20 December 1918.

The deposed King Nikola I continued to appoint prime ministers of Montenegro in exile until his death in 1921.