The article considers the process of formation of the Executive authorities in the Altai region in the last 25 years. Consideration is given to the significant role of the executive power in the mechanism of public administration. Emphasis is laid on the rules of law, defining the principles of formation of the executive power in subjects of the Russian Federation. It is noted that Federal legislation modifies the regional system of the executive power. The article distinguishes the main stages of forming the executive authorities in the Altai region. It is stated that the changes in the system of the executive power are related to the main directions of administrative reform. The consideration is given to the process of formation of the leading position of the highest officials of the entity, establishing of their liability. The study is made of the trend of changing approaches to the formation of the Supreme Executive body of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation. An analysis is given to various types of bodies of the executive power that existed in the region in recent years. The study is made of the current structure of the executive power in the Altai, along with distinguishing of the major trends and promising directions of the reforming of the system of executive authorities of the Altai territory.