The office does not possess special constitutional powers beyond its responsibility as a member of the Council of Ministers.

After many arguments with the government members and the PM, De la Fuente resigned on March 5, 1975.

A few months later, Navarro appointed Juan-Miguel Villar Mir as Third Deputy, as well as Minister of Economy and Finance.

Adolfo Suárez did not use this position until his second term, in 1977, appointing Third Deputy PM Fernando Abril Martorell.

The official title of Abril Martorell was Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, and he was mainly responsible for the relations between the Government and Parliament.