The position was created in 1976 after the newly enacted Constitution of Portugal, which followed the 1974 Revolution, granted legislative autonomy to the Azores and Madeira archipelagoes, thus establishing the Portuguese Autonomous Regions and the respective governing bodies. It is analogous to the position of President of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores and both are equally 14th in the Portuguese order of precedence, being this the highest ranking position of any regional governing body.