Council of State (Greece)

The Council of State (Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας, Symvoulio tis Epikrateias) is the Supreme Administrative Court of Greece. It is one of the three supreme courts of the Greek judicial system, along with the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court (Areios Pagos) and the Court of Audit.

The Council of State's primary jurisdiction lies in reviewing the legality of administrative acts of the Greek government, state agencies, and local authorities. This includes presidential decrees, ministerial decisions, regulations, and individual administrative decisions. Its purpose is to ensure that these acts comply with the Greek Constitution and the laws of the land.

The Council of State also functions as an advisory body to the government on legislative matters. It is consulted on draft laws and regulations, providing opinions on their constitutionality and legality. While these opinions are not legally binding, they carry significant weight and are usually taken into consideration by the government.

The court's composition consists of councillors of state, associate councillors, and rapporteurs, all appointed by presidential decree following selection by a council of senior judges. The President of the Council of State is the highest-ranking judge and is appointed by the President of the Hellenic Republic based on proposals from the cabinet.

Decisions of the Council of State are binding on the administration. If the Council finds an administrative act to be illegal, it can annul the act, meaning it is no longer valid. This ensures the rule of law and protects citizens from arbitrary or unlawful actions by the state. The decisions of the Council are published and contribute to the development of administrative law jurisprudence in Greece.