[1] The longest serving premier in the history of the USSR was Alexei Kosygin, who was appointed head of government after the ousting of Nikita Khrushchev in 1964.

[3] Under the 1977 Soviet Constitution, the head of government was the leader of the highest executive and administrative organ of state.

[4] The head of government was tasked with resolving all state administrative duties within the jurisdiction of the USSR to the degree which were not the responsibility of the Supreme Soviet or its Presidium.

The head of government managed the national economy, formulated the five-year plans and ensured socio-cultural development.

Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin died in office of natural causes, and three premiers resigned—Alexei Kosygin, Nikolai Tikhonov and Ivan Silayev.