Greece consists of 13 administrative regions known as Peripheries of Greece, which are further subdivided into 3 super-prefectures and 54 prefectures or nomes (Greek: νομοί, νομός, nomoi, singular – nomos).
According to the Constitution of Greece the prefectures are mainly a second-degree organization of local self-government. They are not however hierarchically superior to the Communities and Municipalities of Greece. After the legislative reform of 1994 most of the administrative duties of the prefectures were transferred to the peripheries. Nevertheless, they still keep certain administrative duties attributed to them by the central government (sanitary committees, urban-planning services etc.) and they are thus also legally regarded as administrative units of the central government.
The first prefectural elections took place in 1994. The prefects were previously appointed by the government.
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