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
Abbreviation	TBMM
Founded	April 23, 1920
Country	Turkey
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Mustafa Şentop

Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The Turkish War of Independence led to the establishment of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on April 23, 1920, in Ankara, with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as its first speaker, and it has been the sole legislative body of the Republic of Turkey since its founding, playing a crucial role in the country's transition to a secular and democratic state, as envisioned by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and other founding fathers, including İsmet İnönü and Fevzi Çakmak. The assembly has been influenced by various political parties, such as the Republican People's Party, Justice and Development Party, and Nationalist Movement Party, and has had notable speakers, including Celâl Bayar and İsmet İnönü. The assembly's history is closely tied to significant events, including the Turkish War of Independence, Battle of Sakarya, and Treaty of Lausanne.

● History

The history of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey is deeply connected to the country's struggle for independence, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and other prominent figures, such as İsmet İnönü and Fevzi Çakmak, who played key roles in the Turkish War of Independence against the Allies of World War I, including the United Kingdom, France, and Greece. The assembly's first meeting on April 23, 1920, marked the beginning of a new era in Turkish politics, with the Republican People's Party dominating the political landscape, and its influence can be seen in the Constitution of Turkey, which was adopted in 1921, and has undergone several amendments, including those in 1924, 1961, and 1982, with significant contributions from notable politicians, such as Celâl Bayar and Adnan Menderes. The assembly has also been shaped by significant events, including the Sheikh Said rebellion, Turkish general election, 1950, and 1960 Turkish coup d'état, which have had lasting impacts on the country's politics, economy, and society, with notable figures, such as Necmettin Erbakan and Turgut Özal, playing important roles in shaping the country's trajectory.

● Composition

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey is composed of 600 members, known as Members of Parliament, who are elected by proportional representation for a term of five years, with the most recent election being the 2018 Turkish general election, which saw the Justice and Development Party emerge as the largest party, followed by the Republican People's Party, Nationalist Movement Party, and Peoples' Democratic Party. The assembly is led by a speaker, currently Mustafa Şentop, who is assisted by deputy speakers, including Levent Gök and Celal Adan, and is divided into various committees, such as the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on National Defense, which are responsible for overseeing the country's foreign policy, national security, and defense strategies, with input from notable experts, including Ahmet Davutoğlu and Hakan Fidan. The assembly also has a number of parliamentary groups, including the Justice and Development Party group and Republican People's Party group, which play important roles in shaping the country's legislation and policy.

● Powers and Functions

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey has a range of powers and functions, including the power to enact, amend, and repeal laws, as well as to approve the budget and oversee the government, led by the President of Turkey, currently Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the Council of Ministers, which is responsible for implementing the country's policies and programs, with input from notable ministers, including Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Berat Albayrak. The assembly also has the power to investigate and scrutinize the government's actions, through mechanisms such as parliamentary questions and investigations, which have been used to examine significant issues, including the 2013 corruption scandal in Turkey and the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, with notable figures, such as Fethullah Gülen and Hulusi Akar, playing important roles in these events.

● Legislative Process

The legislative process in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey typically begins with the introduction of a bill by the government or a member of parliament, which is then referred to a committee for review and debate, with input from experts, including Ahmet Davutoğlu and Ali Babacan. The committee may amend the bill before reporting it back to the full assembly, which then debates and votes on the bill, with the support of parties, such as the Justice and Development Party and Republican People's Party, being crucial in determining its passage, and notable politicians, including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, playing important roles in shaping the country's legislation and policy. If the bill is approved, it is sent to the President of Turkey for signature, who may veto the bill, although the assembly can override the veto with a two-thirds majority, as has happened in significant cases, including the 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum.

● Current Composition

The current composition of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey reflects the results of the 2018 Turkish general election, which saw the Justice and Development Party win 295 seats, followed by the Republican People's Party with 146 seats, the Nationalist Movement Party with 49 seats, and the Peoples' Democratic Party with 67 seats, with other parties, including the Good Party and Felicity Party, also holding seats, and notable politicians, including Meral Akşener and Temel Karamollaoğlu, playing important roles in the assembly, and the assembly's composition being influenced by significant events, including the 2019 Turkish local elections and the 2020 Turkish parliamentary speaker election, which have had lasting impacts on the country's politics and society, with the Grand National Assembly of Turkey continuing to play a crucial role in shaping the country's future, with input from notable figures, including Abdullah Gül and Bülent Arınç.