Grand National Assembly of Turkey

Grand National Assembly of Turkey
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Name	Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Native name	Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi
Established	1920
House type	Unicameral
Members	600
Meeting place	Parliament Building, Ankara

Grand National Assembly of Turkey is the unicameral legislature established in 1920 in Ankara as the national assembly that replaced the Ottoman Ottoman Parliament during the Turkish War of Independence and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. It enacted foundational reforms associated with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Republic of Turkey constitution, and the transition from the Ottoman Caliphate to a secular republic, shaping relations with states such as United Kingdom, France, and Soviet Russia during the interwar era.

History

The assembly convened in 1920 amid the Armistice of Mudros, the Occupation of Istanbul, and the military campaigns of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), asserting sovereignty in the face of the Treaty of Sèvres and later endorsing the Treaty of Lausanne. Early sessions produced the Turkish War of Independence directives, the abolition of the Sultanate of the Ottoman Empire, the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, and the secularizing reforms of Atatürk reforms such as the Turkish Language Association and the Civil Code (1926). During the mid-20th century the assembly navigated transitions involving the Democrat Party (Turkey, 1946–1961), the 1960 Turkish coup d'état, the 1971 Turkish military memorandum, and the 1980 Turkish coup d'état, each episode prompting constitutional revisions and new Constitution of Turkey (1961), Constitution of Turkey (1982), and later amendments after the 1999 Marmara earthquake and the 2007 constitutional referendum. In the 21st century the assembly has embodied political contests among parties like the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Republican People's Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), influencing foreign policy toward European Union, NATO, Russia, and United States.

Composition and electoral system

The assembly is composed of 600 deputies elected from 87 electoral districts corresponding to provinces such as Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, and Antalya under a proportional representation system rooted in the D'Hondt method and regulated by the Supreme Election Council (YSK). Eligibility and mandate rules reference provisions in the Constitution of Turkey (1982), with party thresholds and independent candidacy shaping representation for parties including AKP, CHP, MHP, HDP, and regional actors in provinces like Hakkâri and Diyarbakır. Elections have coincided with presidential votes under procedures established after the 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum, affecting the balance between the assembly and the Presidency of Turkey.

Powers and functions

The assembly exercises legislative authority defined by the Constitution of Turkey (1982), including enacting statutes, approving budgets submitted by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance (Turkey), ratifying international treaties such as the Treaty of Lausanne and agreements with European Union, and authorizing declarations of emergency tied to events like the 2016 attempted coup d'état in Turkey. It holds oversight over the cabinet and the Minister of Interior (Turkey), can initiate constitutional amendments, and selects key officials through votes involving institutions like the Constitutional Court of Turkey and the Supreme Court of Appeals (Yargıtay). The assembly plays a central role in national security matters alongside the Turkish Armed Forces and coordinates with agencies such as the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

Organization and leadership

Leadership comprises the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, multiple deputy speakers, and parliamentary group leaders representing parties such as AKP, CHP, MHP, and HDP. Organizational structures include the Parliamentary groups, the Presidency of the Assembly office, and administrative organs that interact with state bodies such as the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, the Prime Ministry of Turkey (abolished in 2018), and the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK). The assembly's internal regulations are detailed in the Rules of Procedure of the Grand National Assembly and shaped by jurisprudence from the Constitutional Court of Turkey.

Legislative process

Bills may be proposed by deputies, parliamentary groups, or the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, then reviewed in relevant committees before general debate on the floor and voting according to the Rules of Procedure of the Grand National Assembly. Financial legislation, including the annual budget presented by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance (Turkey), follows specialized timetables and scrutiny by the Planning and Budget Committee, while constitutional amendments require qualified majorities outlined in the Constitution of Turkey (1982). Emergency decrees and law-making powers have intersected with executive authority during crises such as the 1999 İzmit earthquake and the aftermath of the 2016 attempted coup d'état in Turkey.

Committees and oversight

Permanent committees cover areas such as the Constitutional Committee, the Justice Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Planning and Budget Committee, enabling detailed scrutiny of legislation and supervision of ministries including the Ministry of Justice (Turkey), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey), and Ministry of Defense (Turkey). Temporary inquiry commissions have investigated events like the Susurluk scandal, financial crises involving institutions such as the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, and security incidents linked to PKK–Turkey conflict. The assembly summons ministers, issues interpellations, and can initiate motions of no confidence or sanctions guided by the Rules of Procedure of the Grand National Assembly and interpreted by the Constitutional Court of Turkey.

Buildings and symbols

The assembly's principal meeting place is the Parliament Building in Ankara; earlier sessions occurred in Sivas Congress Hall and in the provisional Istanbul locations during transitional periods. Iconography includes the assembly seal, parliamentary mace, and national symbols like the Turkish flag and portraits of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, displayed alongside monuments such as the Monument of the Republic (Ankara). Architectural phases reflect designs by architects and firms involved in projects across Ankara and ties to state institutions including the General Directorate of Foundations and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

Category:Politics of Turkey Category:Legislatures