Maria Karageorgou

Hellenic Parliament

The Parliament is the supreme democratic institution that represents the citizens through an elected body of Members of Parliament (MPs). The Plenum consists of all MPs elected in the same general election. General elections are normally held every four years unless Parliament is dissolved earlier. The interval between two elections is a ‘parliamentary term'. Consecutive parliamentary terms have been numbered in sequence since 1974. The Parliament holds regular Sessions during a parliamentary term while the Constitution of Greece provides for extraordinary and special Sessions as well. The Plenum convenes in regular Session every year on the first Monday of October. The duration of a regular Session cannot be less than five months. Within 30 days from the date of the general elections, the Plenum must be convened in regular Session. The Plenum is mainly responsible for the legislative and the parliamentary control functions. When Parliament is in recess, between two Sessions, part of the legislative and parliamentary control business is exercised by the compositions of the Recess Section. There are three consecutive compositions of the Recess Section each year during the summer recess, each consisting of a third of the total number of MPs. In the Recess Section participate one third 1/3 of the total number of MPs. The composition of the Recess Section changes periodically in order to ensure equal participation of all MPs.