Abstract: The article contains the analysis of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation depending on the four directions (units) that characterize the Ministry of Finance as a governmental authority, state authority, executive authority and legal entity of public law. The author also pays atention at formation and development of a new phenomenon in law - legal entity of public law. The author forms the definition of state authority based on features of legal entities of public law and provides a definition of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation as a state authority from the point of view of a legal entity of public law.