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| Contents |
• Introduction
• Geography
• Government
- The
Constitution
- Political
Life
- Local
Government
- Armed
Forces
- Judicial
System
-
Education
- Health
and Welfare
• The Greek People
• Nature
• Economy
• Cultural Life
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Government |
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The
Constitution |
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After
a nationwide referendum in 1974, the monarchy was abolished
and the constitution took its present form.
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The
Hellenic Republic is a parliamentary democracy with a 300
member house, the Vouli or Parliament, headed by
the Prime
Minister.
Parliamentary
sessions normally last for four years, followed by elections
held on the basis of direct, secret, and universal ballot.
The head of the Greek State is the President, who is elected
by Parliament. The President, who has limited political
powers, may hold office for a maximum of two five-year terms.
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Political
Life |
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Local
Government
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The
country is divided into 13 administrative regions (9 mainland
and 4 insular). These are further subdivided into 51 nomoi (prefectures),
each with an elected nomarkhis (prefect). The current government's
decentralisation policy has led to greater political influence
for the regions. |
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| Armed
Forces |
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Greece
has been a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member
since 1951. At 4.5% of GDP, the country's expenditure on defence
is the highest in NATO. Conscription for men is mandatory; military
service lasts 14 to 16 months. However, the Greek Armed
Forces rely increasingly on professional troops, including
women. |
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| Judicial
System |
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Greek
law is based on Roman law.
The
highest courts are:
- the
Areios Pagos (Supreme Court ), which deals with civil
and criminal cases
- the
Symvoulion Epikrateias (Council of State), which
determines the constitutional legality of State laws and
activities
- the
Court of State Auditors, which has jurisdiction in
financial matters.
A Special
Supreme Tribunal handles constitutional disputes and validates
elections.
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Education
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Greeks strongly believe in the importance of education. The
educational system is based on a central administration and
literacy is almost universal.
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Fact Box
| Literacy |
| Total
Population |
95
% |
| Male |
98
% |
| Women |
93
% |
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The
oldest university-level institutions are the National Capodistrian
University of Athens, the National
Technical University of Athens, and the Aristotelian
University of Thessaloniki. In the last three decades, a
number of new universities have been founded in Ioannina, Patra,
Thrace, Crete, Corfu, and the Aegean. There is a constitutional
ban on private universities, but several professional training
schools and branches of foreign universities exist. As demand
for university-level education is high, many Greeks study abroad.
Many institutions of higher learning have been endowed by diaspora
Greeks. |
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Health
and Welfare
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There are more doctors per person in Greece than in most other
countries in the European Union. Conversely, suicide rates are
the lowest in Europe.
A
National Health System (ESY) was introduced by the PASOK government
in the 1980s.The Social Insurance Institute (IKA) and the Agricultural
Insurance Organisation (OGA) are the main social security providers.
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Fact Box
| Health
Indices |
| Number
of Physicians (1994): |
40,487
(1 per 258 persons) |
| Number
of Hospital Beds (1993): |
52,144
(1 per 199 persons) |
| Daily
Calorific Intake: |
3,815
(78% vegetable products, 22% meat products) |
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Next:
The Greek People >> |
 
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