Legal System of Greece

Greece is located in Europe. It is geographically situated in southern europe, bordering the aegean sea, ionian sea, and the mediterranean sea, between albania and turkey. The country achieved independence on 3 february 1830 (from the ottoman empire). The capital is Athens.

Government Overview

Government Type: parliamentary republic Chief of State: President Konstantinos TASOULAS (since 13 March 2025) Head of Government: Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 26 June 2023) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister Administrative Divisions: 13 regions (perifereies, singular - perifereia) and 1 autonomous monastic state* (aftonomi monastiki politeia); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean) National Holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and compulsory

Legal System

The legal system of Greece is described as civil legal system based on Roman law International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975 Amendment Process: proposed by at least 50 members of Parliament and agreed by three-fifths majority vote in two separate ballots at least 30 days apart; passage requires absolute majority vote by the next elected Parliament; entry into force finalized through a “special parliamentary resolution”; articles on human rights and freedoms and the form of government cannot be amended

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Civil and Criminal Court or Areios Pagos (consists of 56 judges, including the court presidents); Council of State (supreme administrative court) consists of the president, 7 vice presidents, 42 privy councilors, 48 associate councilors and 50 reporting judges, organized into six 5- and 7-member chambers; Court of Audit (government audit and enforcement) consists of the president, 5 vice presidents, 20 councilors, and 90 associate and reporting judges Judge Selection: Supreme Court judges appointed by presidential decree on the advice of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which includes the president of the Supreme Court, other judges, and the prosecutor of the Supreme Court; judges appointed for life after a 2-year probationary period; Council of State president appointed by the Greek Cabinet to serve a 4-year term; other judge appointments and tenure NA; Court of Audit president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the advice of the SJC; court president serves a 4-year term or until age 67; tenure of vice presidents, councilors, and judges NA Subordinate Courts: Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance (district courts)

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral Note: note: only parties surpassing a 3% vote threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and compulsory

Historical Background

Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 and became a kingdom. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Greece based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.