Organizational activity of the Small Sovnarkom in the first years after the October revolution of 1917

The process of formation of the Small Council of People's Commissars in the first months after the October Revolution is considered. The relevant decisions of the Soviet government, archival materials, and scientific works on the stated topic are analyzed. It is noted that this body was created on the initiative of V.I. Lenin in a short time, which made it possible to reduce the enormous load on the “big” Council of People’s Commissars, which, after approval at the Congress of Soviets on October 25, 1917, began its work practically “from scratch.” The powers, principles and features of the functioning of the Small Council of People's Commissars, its role in the system of the state apparatus are revealed.