Page "French Fourth Republic" Paragraph 8

For instance, under the new Constitution, the President of the Council was the leader of the executive branch ( Prime Minister of France ).

The President of the French Republic, elected by the Parliament ( the National Assembly and the Council of the Republic ), played a symbolic role.

His main power was to propose a Prime Minister, who was subject to election by the National Assembly before forming a cabinet.

Only the Prime Minister could invoke a parliamentary vote on legitimacy of the cabinet.

The Prime Minister was also the only member of the executive able to demand a vote of confidence from the National Assembly ( in the Third Republic, any minister could call for a vote of confidence ).

The cabinet could be dismissed if an absolute majority of the National Assembly's members voted against the cabinet.

Finally, the National Assembly could be dissolved after two ministerial crises in the legislature.