Government of Crete
Long Conventional Name
Hellenic Republic
Short Conventional Name
Greece
Long Local Name
Elliniki Dhimokratia
Short Local Name
Ellas or Ellada
Government Type
Parliamentary Republic
Capital City
Athens
Administrative Divisions
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos.
Independence Day
Thursday, 1st January 1829
Constitutional History
11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal System
Based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations.
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive Branch
Chief of State
President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005)
Head of Government
Prime Minister Konstandinos (Kostas) KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004)
Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections
President elected by parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held by February 2010); according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms; president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government.
Legislative Branch
Unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms).
Judical Branch
Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council.
Flag Description
Nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country.