User:Sarah fides/Parliament
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hellenic Parliament (Greek: Βουλή των Ελλήνων, Voulí ton Ellínonⓘ) is the parliament of Greece, located in the Athens' Old Royal Palace, overlooking Syntagma Square. The parliament is Greece's supreme democratic institution. It is a unicameral legislature made up of 200–300 members of parliament (MPs) elected for a four-year term in multi-member constituencies.[1] MPs are elected to represent the nation and not their constituents.[2] Up to 15 MPs can be elected through a national list, while 50 seats are given to the first party as a majority bonus. All Parliaments since 1957 have had 300 members.
The Parliament was established at the aftermath of the 1843 revolution and was the first to be elected with universal (male) suffrage, inspired by the ideals of the Revolutions of 1830. In the periods 1844–1863 and 1924–1935 it was bicameral, with an upper house called the Gerousía (Greek: Γερουσία), and a lower house which retained the name Voulí. Jointly, they are referred to as Kinovoulion (Greek: Κοινοβούλιον, Parliament). Before the Old Royal Palace was converted to house the Parliament in 1934, it was housed at the purpose-built Old Parliament House since 1875.
The Hellenic Parliament selects the Prime Minister of Greece, usually the political leader whose party won the most seats, and has the power to overturn the government and call a fresh election through a vote of no confidence. The Prime Minister and their Government must command the support of at least 151 MPs, a parliamentary principle introduced in 1875 and known as Dedilomeni (Greek: Δεδηλωμένη, literally declared [confidence]). Its leader is the President of the Hellenic Parliament.