There were two governments of the 6th Dáil. The 4th executive council of the Irish Free State (11 October 1927 – 2 April 1930) was formed after the September 1927 general election to the 6th Dáil held on 15 September 1927. The 4th executive council lasted for from its appointment until it resigned from office, and continued to carry out its duties until the appointment of its successor for a further 5 days, for a total of . The 5th executive council of the Irish Free State (2 April 1930 – 9 March 1932) was formed after the executive council resigned in a Dáil defeat. It lasted for . Both minority governments of Cumann na nGaedheal led by W. T. Cosgrave as President of the Executive Council and had the same composition in personnel.
4th executive council of the Irish Free State
Nomination of President of the Executive Council
The 6th Dáil first met on 11 October 1927. In the debate on the nomination of the President of the Executive Council, Cumann na nGaedheal leader and outgoing President W. T. Cosgrave was proposed, and this resolution was carried with 76 votes in favour and 70 against. Cosgrave was then appointed as President of the Executive Council by Governor-General Tim Healy.
{| class="wikitable"
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| colspan="3" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" align=center | 11 October 1927<br/>Nomination of W. T. Cosgrave (CnaG) as President of the Executive Council<br/>Motion proposed by Gearóid O'Sullivan and seconded by Peadar Doyle<br/>Absolute majority: 77/153
|- bgcolor="#D8D8D8"
! width=80px | Vote
! width=425px | Parties
! width=80px align="center" | Votes
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| Yes || Cumann na nGaedheal (60), Farmers' Party (6), Independents (10) ||
|-
| No || Fianna Fáil (57), Labour Party (13) ||
|-
| Absent or<br />Not voting || National League Party (2), Independents (2), Ceann Comhairle (1) ||
|-
|Vacancy
|1 ||
|}
Members of the Executive Council
The members of the Executive Council were nominated by the President and approved by the Dáil on 12 October.
{| class="wikitable"
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!Office
!colspan="2"| Name
|-
|President of the Executive Council
|style="background-color: " |
|W. T. Cosgrave
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|Vice-President of the Executive Council
|rowspan=3 style="background-color: " |
|rowspan=3|Ernest Blythe
|-
|Minister for Finance
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|Minister for Posts and Telegraphs
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|Minister for Defence
|style="background-color: " |
|Desmond FitzGerald
|-
|Minister for Education
|style="background-color: " |
|John M. O'Sullivan
|-
|Minister for Industry and Commerce
|rowspan=2 style="background-color: " |
|rowspan=2|Patrick McGilligan
|-
|Minister for External Affairs
|-
|Minister for Agriculture and Lands
|style="background-color: " |
|Patrick Hogan
|-
|Minister for Fisheries