GyaniBandaSD at 01:10, 19 August 2022

2022-08-19T01:10:20Z

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{{distinguish|text=the [[Byzantine senate]]}}
{{Unreferenced}}
{{Use dmy dates}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color =
| name = Greek Senate
| native_name = {{lang|el|Ελληνική Γερουσία}}
| legislature =
| coa_pic =
| coa_alt =
| coa_res = 300px
| session_room = Greek_Parliament,_Chamber_of_Senate.jpg
| meeting_place = [[Old Royal Palace]], [[Athens]]
| session_alt =
| session_res =

| structure1 =
| structure1_res =

| house_type = Upper House
| body = Hellenic Parliament
| members = 120
| established = 1927
| disbanded = 1935

}}
{{Politics of Greece}}
The '''Greek Senate''' ({{lang-el|Ελληνική Γερουσία|Ellinikí [[Gerousia|Gerousía]]}}) was the upper chamber of the [[parliament]] in [[Greece]], extant several times in the country's history.

==Local senates during the War of Independence==
During the early stages of the [[Greek War of Independence]], prior to the establishment of a centralized administration, a number of [[Greek local statutes|regional councils]] were established, most of which were termed "senate", but which were unicameral bodies: the [[Senate of Western Continental Greece]], the [[Areopagus of Eastern Continental Greece]] (sometimes referred to as "senate"), and the [[Peloponnesian Senate]].

==1829–1833==
{{main|Greek Senate (1829)}}
A unicameral body with purely advisory functions, the Senate was established in 1829 by the [[Fourth National Assembly at Argos]] in replacement of the ''[[Panellinion]]'', established the previous year. It had 27 members, 21 of whom were chosen by the Governor ([[Ioannis Kapodistrias]]) from 63 candidates nominated by the Assembly, and further six who were appointed directly by the Governor. [[Georgios Sisinis]] was elected as its president. After Kapodistrias' murder in 1831, the Senate appointed a series of governing councils to lead the state. In 1832, the [[Fifth National Assembly at Nafplion]] abolished the Senate, but the Senate refused to recognize the act, and survived until the arrival of King [[Otto of Greece|Otto]] in February 1833.

==1844–1864==
The Senate as an upper chamber was established by the [[Greek Constitution of 1844]]. The Senate had 27 members, appointed for life by the King, who in addition could appoint further members up to one half of the statutory number. The Senate, seen as a reactionary body and essentially dependent upon the King, was abolished by the [[Greek Constitution of 1864]].

==1927–1935==
[[File:Greek Parliament, Chamber of Senate.jpg|thumb|The Chamber of the Senate in the Hellenic Parliament.]]
On 2 January 1924, the Fourth National Assembly convened and decided the abrogation of the dynasty as well as the abolition of the crowned democracy (a decision which was ratified by [[1924 Greek republic referendum|referendum]] on 13 April 1924), establishing the [[Second Hellenic Republic]].

Whilst the Fourth Constitutional Assembly was working towards the completion of the new Constitution, the coup d'état of General [[Theodoros Pangalos (general)|Theodoros Pangalos]] took place. After the fall of his dictatorship in 1926, the "Parliament of the First Term" was elected, which, finally, voted through the [[Greek Constitution of 1927|Constitution of 1927]].

Legislative power was exercised by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Chamber was made up of 200-300 members elected for a four-year term by direct, secret and universal ballot. The Senate was composed of 120 members elected for a nine-year term, but its synthesis was renewed every three years by 1/3. At least 9/12 of the senators were elected by the people, 1/12 by the Chamber and the Senate in a common session at the onset of each parliamentary term, whereas the remaining 2/12 were elected on the basis of a principle of representation of the professions.

In the event of disagreement between the two houses in the voting of a law, the Constitution established the supremacy of the Chamber's vote.

Another significant element was the explicit institution of the parliamentary system. For the first time, the Greek Constitution included a clause stating that the Cabinet must "enjoy the confidence of the Parliament".

The Second Hellenic Republic lasted until 1935. That year, as a result of a [[1935 Greek coup d'état attempt|failed coup]] by the supporters of Venizelos, the military was purged, and the royalists, led by [[Georgios Kondylis]], launched a {{Interlanguage link multi|October 1935 Greek coup d'état{{!}}successful coup on 10 October|el|3=Κίνημα Κονδύλη 10ης Οκτωβρίου 1935}}. The Constitution of 1927 was abolished, the [[Greek Constitution of 1911|Constitution of 1911]] was re-instated, and King [[George II of Greece|George II]] came back to the throne by a [[1935 Greek monarchy referendum|referendum]].

== Ionian Senate ==
[[File:Museum of Asian art of Corfu 323.JPG|thumb|left|Meeting room of the [[Ionian Senate]], in the [[Palace of St. Michael and St. George]], [[Corfu (city)|Corfu]].]]
Although not a part of the [[Kingdom of Greece]], there was also an upper house called the '''''[[Ionian Senate]]''''' in the [[Septinsular Republic]] (1800-1815) and [[United States of the Ionian Islands]] (1815-1864), under Russian, French and British Protectorates. During most of its history it was housed at the [[Palace of St. Michael and St. George]] in [[Corfu (city)|Corfu]], where its meeting room can still be seen with the original furniture. The six chairs are for its six members:
* the President of the Senate
* one delegate for each of the major four islands ([[Corfu]], [[Lefkada]], [[Kefalonia]] and [[Zakynthos]])
* one delegate rotating between the minor three ([[Paxi]], [[Ithaca (island)|Ithaca]] and [[Kythira]])

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{National upper houses}}

[[Category:Greek Senate| ]]
[[Category:1829 establishments in Greece]]
[[Category:1832 disestablishments]]
[[Category:1844 establishments in Greece]]
[[Category:1864 disestablishments]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in Greece]]
[[Category:1935 disestablishments]]
[[Category:National upper houses|Greece]]
[[Category:Political history of Greece]]
[[Category:Defunct upper houses]]
[[Category:Ioannis Kapodistrias]]

Greek Senate - Revision history

GyaniBandaSD at 01:10, 19 August 2022