The President of the National Assembly was head of state of the Batavian Republic between 1796 and 1798, during his term in office (usually just half a month).

A number of members of the second National Assembly (elected in 1797) were expelled after a coup d'état by Pieter Vreede on 25 January 1798 aided by General Herman Willem Daendels.

A new parliament under the name Representative Body (Dutch: Vertegenwoordigend Lichaam) came into being in May 1798 after elections held under a new constitution.

Under that new constitution, the head of state of the Batavian Republic was a member of the Uitvoerend Bewind.

In 1801 it was replaced with a new 35-member parliament named the Legislative Body (Dutch: Wetgevend Lichaam).