Get to Know the Hellenic Parliament

Written by Greek Boston in Modern Greek History Comments Off on Get to Know the Hellenic Parliament

The Hellenic Parliament has actually been in existence since 1843, back when Greece was a constitutional monarchy. The Hellenic Parliament of Greece is the supreme democratic institution in Greece. The Parliament includes 300 MPs who are elected by the citizens. Each member of Parliament is elected for a four-year term, and all together, they have the collective power to pass laws, amend bills, and set the legislative agenda. The Hellenic Parliament of Greece functions as much more than a legislative body. Here’s more information about the Hellenic Parliament:

About the Hellenic Parliament

The Hellenic Parliament has been around for almost 180 years, meaning that it has been around for two world wars, multiple civil wars, military dictatorships, and occupations. In 1862, there was a massive rebellion against King Otto in Greece, and the revolt marked the end of the constitutional monarchy. The new leader formed a constitution in 1864, which created a single-chamber Parliament.

After World War Two, a military dictatorship changed the Parliament into a rubber stamp for the dictator. This government lasted for eight years until a referendum passed, which created a President and Prime Minister. Since then, the Parliament has passed constitutional revisions every couple of years that have expanded rights and modernized the democracy.

How the Hellenic Parliament is Structured

The Hellenic Parliament has the powers of almost every other Parliament in the world. Most importantly, they have the power to propose, amend, and pass legislation that can affect the entire country. The most important legislation is usually seen as constitutional amendments, which can change rights, expand the government’s powers, and shift the country’s course significantly. The other significant power of the Parliament is the power to form a government, a process in parliamentary systems in which the majority party forms a government that sets the legislative agenda.

Checks and Balances of the Hellenic Parliament

The Hellenic Parliament has the fundamental right to oversee and criticize the Prime Minister if he has fallen short on different issues. One of the most important things that occur is the Prime Minister’s Questions, a one-hour session every week in which the Prime Minister enters Parliament and debates the members on different issues, which gives the opposition a way to voice their concerns. The Parliament can hold a vote of no confidence, a seldom-used vote representing the Hellenic Parliament’s hidden power.

Greece has long been a place of logic, wisdom, and new forms of democracy. Even in the 1900s, Greece was expanding rights not seen almost anywhere in the region, advancing citizens’ health and vitality to new heights. The Hellenic Parliament is a large part of these advances.

Whether it was during a dictatorship, monarchy, or democracy, the Parliament has always been a way for Greece to share their concerns and ensure that their voices are heard. The Hellenic Parliament has shown its importance time and time again, passing legislation to protect democracy, check the leadership, and ensure Greece’s vitality.

Source:

Wikipedia – Hellenic Parliament

Categorized in: Modern Greek History

This post was written by Greek Boston