Union The creation of the Soviet Union was legally formalized by the Treaty on the Creation of the Soviet Union, which provided for the formation of the government of the union state. It was called the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union; it included the chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union, his deputies, the leaders of the People's Commissariats of the Soviet Union. The Treaty (Article 11) provides the following list of People's Commissariats of the Soviet Union: People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs; People's Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs; People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade; People's Commissariat of Communications; People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraphs; People's Commissariat of Workers' and Peasants' Inspection; Supreme Council of National Economy; People's Commissariat of Labor; People's Commissariat of Food; People's Commissariat of Finance. As the national economy developed and strengthened, the number of People's Commissariats at all levels increased. So, in 1932, the Supreme Council of the National Economy of the Soviet Union was transformed into three people's commissariat: People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry; People's Commissariat of Light Industry; People's Commissariat of the Forest Industry. Further, from 1936 to 1939, the number of branch People's Commissariats increased to 24. Transformation into ministries In 1946, the People's Commissariats of all levels were transformed into ministries of the same name. References External links People's Commissariats in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (2nd edition, Volume 29, Moscow, 1954). People's Commissariat in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd edition, Volume 17, Moscow, 1974). Government institutions