Grand National Assembly of Turkey

Composition

There are 600 members of parliament (deputies) who are elected for a five-year term by the D'Hondt method, a party-list proportional representation system, from 87 electoral districts which represent the 81 administrative provinces of Turkey (Istanbul and Ankara are divided into three electoral districts whereas İzmir and Bursa are divided into two each because of its large populations). To avoid a hung parliament and its excessive political fragmentation, from 1982 to 2022, a party must have won at least 10% of the national vote to qualify for representation in the parliament, but in 2022 this was reduced to 7%. As a result of the 10% threshold, only two parties won seats in the legislature after the 2002 elections and three in 2007. The 2002 elections saw every party represented in the previous parliament ejected from the chamber and parties representing 46.3% of the voter turnout were excluded from being represented in parliament. This threshold has been criticized, but a complaint with the European Court for Human Rights was turned down.

Independent candidates may also run and can be elected without needing a threshold.

Speaker of the parliament

A new term in the parliament began on 2 June 2023, after the 2023 general election. Devlet Bahçeli MHP temporarily served as the speaker, as it is customary for the oldest member of the TBMM to serve as speaker during a hung parliament. Numan Kurtulmuş was elected after the snap elections on 7 June 2023.

Languages

The parliament's minutes are translated into the four languages: Arabic, Russian, English and French, but not in the Kurdish language which is the second most spoken native language in Turkey. Though phrases in the Kurdish language can be permitted, whole speeches remain forbidden.

Members (since 1999)

• Members elected in 1999 (21st Parliament)
• Members elected in 2002 (22nd Parliament)
• Members elected in 2007 (23rd Parliament)
• Members elected in 2011 (24th Parliament)
• Members elected in June 2015 (25th Parliament)
• Members elected in November 2015 (26th Parliament)
• Members elected in 2018 (27th Parliament)
• Members elected in 2023 (28th Parliament)

Parliamentary groups

Parties who have at least 20 deputies may form a parliamentary group. Currently there are six parliamentary groups at the GNAT: AK Party, which has the highest number of seats, CHP, MHP, Good Party, DEM, and New Path.

Committees

Specialized committees

1. Justice Committee (27 members)
2. Constitution Committee (26 members)
3. Committee for Harmonization with the European Union (27 members)
4. Public Works, Zoning, Transportation, and Tourism Committee (26 members)
5. Environment Committee (26 members)
6. Foreign Affairs Committee (25 members)
7. Digital Media Committee (17 members)
8. Petitions Committee (12 members)
9. Security and Intelligence Committee (17 members)
10. Internal Affairs Committee (26 members)
11. Committee for the Inspection of Human Rights (25 members)
12. Subcommittee for the Inspection of Islamophobia and Racism (10 members)
13. Subcommittee for the Inspection of the Rights of Convicts and Detainees
14. Migration and Integration Subcommittee (10 members)
15. Children's Rights Subcommittee (10 members)
16. Committee for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (26 members)
17. State-owned Enterprises Committee (35 members)
18. National Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports committee (26 members)
19. National Defense Committee (26 members)
20. Planning and Budgeting Committee (30 members)
21. Health, Family, Employment, and Social Affairs Committee (27 members)
22. Industry, Commerce, Energy, Natural Resources, Information, and Technology Committee (26 members)
23. Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Works Committee (26 members){{Cite web |title=Tarım, Orman ve Köyişleri Komisyonu |url=https://www.tbmm.gov.tr/ihtisas-komisyonlari/Icerik/ihtisas-komisyonlari-tarim-orman-ve-koyisleri-komisyonu-hakkinda/tarim-orman-ve-koyisleri-komisyonu/f72877d1-b476-037b-e050-007f01005610 |access-date=23 October 2023 |publisher=GNAT }}

Parliamentary research committees

These committees are one of auditing tools of the Parliament. The research can begin upon the demand of the Government, political party groups or min 20 MPs. The duty is assigned to a committee whose number of members, duration of work and location of work is determined by the proposal of the Parliamentary Speaker and the approval of the General Assembly.

Parliamentary investigation committees

These committees are established if any investigation demand re the president, vice president, and ministers occur and approved by the General Assembly through hidden voting.

International committees

1. Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (8 members)
2. NATO Parliamentary Assembly (18 members)
3. Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (18 members)
4. Turkey — European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee (25 members)
5. Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (5 members)
6. Asian Parliamentary Assembly (5 members)
7. Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (7 members)
8. Inter-parliamentary Union (9 members)
9. Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (9 members)
10. Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (5 members)
11. Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (9 members)
12. Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organization (5 members)
13. Parliamentary Assembly of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (6 members)
14. Andean Parliament (observer) (3 members)
15. Latin American Parliament (observer) (3 members) MPs can attend more than one committee if not a member of Petitions Committee or Planning and Budgeting Committee. Members of those committees can not participate in any other committees. On the other hand, MPs do not have to work for a committee either. Number of members of each committee is determined by the proposal of the Advisory Council and the approval of the General Assembly.

Sub committees are established according to the issue that the committee receives. Only State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Committee has constant sub committees that are specifically responsible for a group of SOEs.

Committee meetings are open to the MPs, the Ministers' Board members and the Government representatives. The MPs and the Ministers' Board members can talk in the committees but can not make amendments proposals or vote. Every MP can read the reports of the committees.

NGOs can attend the committee meetings upon the invitation of the committee therefore volunteer individual or public participation is not available. Media, but not the visual media, can attend the meetings. The media representatives are usually the parliamentary staff of the media institutions. The committees can prevent the attendance of the media with a joint decision.

Current composition

The 28th Parliament of Turkey took office on 2 June 2023, following the ratification of the results of the general election held on 14 May 2023. The composition of the 28th Parliament, is shown below.

Parliament Building

The current Parliament Building is the third to house the nation's parliament. The building which first housed the Parliament was converted from the Ankara headquarters of the Committee of Union and Progress. Designed by architect Hasip Bey, it was used until 1924 and is now used as the locale of the War of Independence Museum, the second building which housed the Parliament was designed by architect Vedat Tek (1873–1942) and used from 1924 to 1960. It is now been converted as the Republic Museum. The Grand National Assembly is now housed in a modern and imposing building in the Bakanlıklar neighborhood of Ankara. The monumental building's project was designed by architect and professor Clemens Holzmeister (1886–1993). The building was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 50,000 lira banknotes of 1989–1999. The building was hit by airstrikes three times during the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, suffering noticeable damage. It went through a renovation in the summer of 2016.

History

It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 amid the National Campaign. This constitution had founded its pre-government known as 1st Executive Ministers of Turkey (Commitment Deputy Committee) in May 1920. The parliament was fundamental in the efforts of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of Turkey, and his colleagues to found a new government out of the remnants of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey has had a history of parliamentary government before the establishment of the current national parliament. These include attempts at curbing absolute monarchy during the Ottoman Empire through constitutional monarchy, as well as establishments of caretaker national assemblies immediately prior to the declaration of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 but after the de facto dissolution of the Ottoman Empire earlier in the decade.

Parliamentary practice before the Republican era

Ottoman Empire

Main article: General Assembly of the Ottoman Empire, First Constitutional Era (Ottoman Empire), Second Constitutional Era (Ottoman Empire)

There were two periods of parliamentary governance during the Ottoman Empire. The First Constitutional Era lasted for only two years, elections being held only twice. After the first elections, there were a number of criticisms of the government due to the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878 by the representatives, and the assembly was dissolved and an election called on 28 June 1877. The second assembly was also dissolved by the Sultan Abdul Hamid II on 14 February 1878, the result being the return of absolute monarchy with Abdul Hamid II in power and the suspension of the Ottoman constitution of 1876, which had come with the democratic reforms resulting in the First Constitutional Era.

The Second Constitutional Era began on 23 July 1908 with the Young Turk Revolution. The constitution that was written for the first parliament included control of the sultan on the public and was removed during 1909, 1912, 1914 and 1916, in a session known as the "declaration of freedom". Most of the modern parliamentary rights that were not granted in the first constitution were granted, such as the abolition of the right of the Sultan to deport citizens that were claimed to have committed harmful activities, the establishment of a free press, a ban on censorship. Freedom to hold meetings and establish political parties was recognized, and the government was held responsible to the assembly, not to the sultan.

During the two constitutional eras of the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman parliament was called the General Assembly of the Ottoman Empire and was bicameral. The upper house was the Senate of the Ottoman Empire, the members of which were selected by the sultan. The role of the Grand Vizier, the centuries-old top ministerial office in the empire, transformed in line with other European states into one identical to the office of a prime minister, as well as that of the speaker of the Senate. The lower chamber of the General Assembly was the Chamber of Deputies of the Ottoman Empire, the members of which were elected by the general public.

Establishment of the National Assembly

Main article: Establishment of Turkish national movement

After World War I, the victorious Allied Powers sought the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire through the Treaty of Sèvres. The sovereign existence of the Turkish nation was to be eliminated under these plans, except for a small region. Nationalist Turkish sentiment rose in the Anatolian peninsula, engendering the establishment of the Turkish national movement. The political developments during this period have made a lasting impact which continues to affect the character of the Turkish nation. During the Turkish War of Independence, Mustafa Kemal put forth the notion that there would be only one way for the liberation of the Turkish people in the aftermath of World War I, namely, through the creation of an independent, sovereign Turkish state. The Sultanate was abolished by the newly founded parliament in 1922, paving the way for the formal proclamation of the republic that was to come on 29 October 1923.

Transition to Ankara

Main article: Government of the Grand National Assembly

Mustafa Kemal, in a speech he made on 19 March 1920 announced that "an Assembly will be gathered in Ankara that will possess extraordinary powers" and communicated how the members who would participate in the assembly would be elected and the need to realise elections, at the latest, within 15 days. He also stated that the members of the dispersed Ottoman Chamber of Deputies could also participate in the assembly in Ankara, to increase the representative power of the parliament. These elections were held as planned, in the style of the elections of the preceding Chamber of Deputies, in order to select the first members of the new Turkish assembly. This Grand National Assembly, established on national sovereignty, held its inaugural session on 23 April 1920. From this date until the end of the Turkish War of Independence in 1923, the provisional government of Turkey was known as the Government of the Grand National Assembly.

Republican era

1923–1945

Main article: Single-party period of the Republic of Turkey

The first trial of multi-party politics, during the republican era, was made in 1924 by the establishment of the Terakkiperver Cumhuriyet Fırkası (Progressive Republican Party) at the request of Mustafa Kemal, which was closed after several months. Following a 6-year one-party rule, after the foundation of the Serbest Fırka (Liberal Party) by Ali Fethi Okyar, again at the request of Mustafa Kemal, in 1930, some violent disorders took place, especially in the eastern parts of the country. The Liberal Party was dissolved on 17 November 1930 and no further attempt at a multiparty democracy was made until 1945.

1945–1960

Main article: Multi-party period of the Republic of Turkey

The multi-party period in Turkey was resumed by the founding of the National Development Party (Milli Kalkınma Partisi), by Nuri Demirağ, in 1945. The Democrat Party was established the following year, and won the general elections of 1950; one of its leaders, Celal Bayar, becoming President of the Republic and another, Adnan Menderes, Prime Minister.

1960–1980

After the a military coup on 27 May 1960, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, President Celal Bayar, and all the ministers and members of the Assembly were arrested. The Assembly was closed. The Committee of National Unity, CNU *(Milli Birlik Komitesi), *assumed all the powers of the Assembly by a provisional constitution and began to run the country. Executive power was used by ministers appointed by the CNU.

The members of the CNU began to work on a new and comprehensive constitution. The Constituent Assembly *(Kurucu Meclis), *composed of members of the CNU and the members of the House of Representatives, was established to draft a new constitution on 6 January 1961. The House of Representatives consisted of those appointed by the CNU, representatives designated by two parties of that time (CHP and Republican Villagers National Party, RVNP), and representatives of various professional associations.

The constitutional text drafted by the Constituent Assembly was presented to the voters in a referendum on 9 July 1961, and was accepted by 61.17% of the voters. The 1961 Constitution, the first prepared by a Constituent Assembly and the first to be presented to the people in a referendum, included innovations in many subjects.

The 1961 Constitution stipulated a typical parliamentarian system. According to the Constitution, Parliament was bicameral. The legislative power was vested in the House of Representatives and the Senate. while the executive authority was vested in the President and the Council of Ministers. The Constitution envisaged a Constitutional Court.

The 1961 Constitution regulated fundamental rights and freedom, including economic and social rights, over a wide spectrum and adopted the principles of a democratic social state and the rule of law. The 1961 Constitution underwent many comprehensive changes after the military memorandum of 12 March 1971, but continued to be in force until the military coup of 1980.

1980–2018

The country underwent another military coup on 12 September 1980. The Constitution was suspended and political parties were dissolved. Many politicians were forbidden from entering politics again. The military power ruling the country established a "Constituent Assembly", as had been done in 1961. The Constituent Assembly was composed of the National Security Council and the Advisory Assembly. Within two years, the new constitution was drafted and was presented to the referendum on 7 November 1982. Participation in the referendum was 91.27%. As a result, the 1982 Constitution was passed with 91.37% of the votes.

The greatest change brought about by the 1982 Constitution was the unicameral parliamentary system. The number of MPs were 550 members. The executive was empowered and new and more definite limitations were introduced on fundamental rights and freedoms. Also, a 10% electoral threshold was introduced. Except for these aspects, the 1982 Constitution greatly resembled the 1961 Constitution.

The 1982 Constitution, from the time it was accepted until the present time, has undergone many changes, especially the "integration laws", which have been introduced within the framework of the European Union membership process, and which has led to a fundamental evolution.

2018–present

After the 2017 constitutional referendums, the first general election of the Assembly was under a presidential system, with an executive president who has the power to renew the elections for the Assembly and vice versa. Following the referendum, the number of MPs increased from 550 to 600. Furthermore, due to separation of powers, members of the cabinet can't introduce laws anymore. This task is left to the parliamentarians. In line with this change, the seats for the members of the cabinet have been removed from the parliament. These seats were originally located on the left side of the Parliament Speaker.

In 2022, at the initiative of the ruling AK Party and its main political ally MHP, the national electoral threshold for a party to enter parliament was lowered from 10 to 7 percent.

Changes since 2023

Main article: 2023 Turkish parliamentary election

Historical composition

Single-party period

|- |

|- | 1927 |

|- | 1931 |

|- | 1935 |

|- | 1939 |

|- | 1943 |

|}

Beginning of the multi-party period

|- |

|- | 1950 |

|- | 1954 |

|- | 1957 |

|}

After the 1960 coup

|- |

|- | 1965 |

|- | 1969 |

|- | 1973 |

|- | 1977 |

|}

After the 1980 coup

|- |

|- | 1987 |

|- | 1991 |

|- | 1995 |

|- | 1999 |

|}

After the 2002 election

|- |

|- | 2007 |

|- | 2011 |

|- | 2015.06 |

|- | 2015.11 |

|- | 2018 |

|- | 2023 |

|}

List of foreign leaders addressing the Turkish Parliament

The General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly hosts foreign dignitaries from time to time. However, the protocol here may vary depending on the situation. For the foreign guest to make a speech a decision of the General Assembly is required.

Picture gallery

File:TBMM.jpeg|The current TBMM front facade File:Ankara asv2021-10 img73 Republic Museum.jpg|The old TBMM File:TBMM açılışı 23 Nisan 1920.jpg|Balcony of the old TBMM File:TBMM, August 2022.jpg|The General Assembly is the meeting place of the TBMM File:Atatürk is entering to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, 1936.jpg|President Atatürk entering the TBMM File:Süleyman Demirel Funeral 1.jpg|Funeral of President Demirel File:The Garden of 2nd Turkish Grand National Assembly, late 1940's (16230096284).jpg|Garden of the second TBMM File:TBMM miniaturk.JPG|A scale model of the current TBMM File:Anap Grup Başkanvekili Pertev Aşcıoğlu 1987.jpg|Discussion in the TBMM in the 1980s File:Sati Kadin at the rostrum of TBMM.jpg|Hatı Çırpan at the rostrum File:Ottoman Parliament Dec1908.jpg|The predecessor of the TBMM was the Ottoman Parliament File:SPRY(1895) p733 - THE OTTOMAN PARLIAMENT, 1877.jpg|The Ottoman Parliament in 1877

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

• {{cite book |author-link =

or

• {{cite journal --
• {{cite book
• {{cite book |url-access = registration

References

1. (2023-05-30). "2023 Milletvekili maaşı kaç TL, ne kadar? Milletvekilleri aylık ne kadar kazanıyor?". [[Cumhuriyet]].
2. "Crossing the threshold – the Turkish election".
3. "Turkey: Parliament Passes Law Amending Election Laws and Lowering Electoral Threshold".
4. "ECHR Upholds Turkey's 10% Threshold in Elections". Harvard International Law Journal.
5. Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information. (24 August 2004). "Political Structure of Turkey". Turkish Prime Minister's Office.
6. [http://secim.sabah.com.tr/istanbul-sehir-sonuclari.html e.g. Istanbul in 2011 has a successful candidate at 3.2%] {{webarchive. link. (15 June 2011)
7. (8 June 2023). "Son Dakika: TBMM'nin yeni başkanı Numan Kurtulmuş oldu". Haberler.
8. (2021-05-10). "Turkish parliament offers simultaneous translation into four languages, excludes Kurdish".
9. (2022-07-12). "HDP MP not allowed to speak Kurdish in parliament".
10. "IPU PARLINE database: TURKEY (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M)), Full text".
11. "Adalet Komisyonu". GNAT.
12. "Anayasa Komisyonu". GNAT.
13. "Avrupa Birliği Uyum Komisyonu". GNAT.
14. "Bayındırlık, İmar, Ulaştırma ve Turizm Komisyonu". GNAT.
15. "Çevre Komisyonu". GNAT.
16. "Dışişleri Komisyonu". GNAT.
17. "Dijital Mecralar Komisyonu". GNAT.
18. "Dilekçe Komisyonu". GNAT.
19. "Güvenlik ve İstihbarat Komisyonu". GNAT.
20. "İçişleri Komisyonu". GNAT.
21. "İnsan Haklarını İnceleme Komisyonu". GNAT.
22. "İslamofobi ve Irkçılık İnceleme Alt Komisyonu". GNAT.
23. "Hükümlü ve Tutuklu Haklarını İnceleme Alt Komisyonu". GNAT.
24. "Göç ve Uyum Alt Komisyonu". GNAT.
25. "Çocuk Hakları Alt Komisyonu". GNAT.
26. "Kadın Erkek Fırsat Eşitliği Komisyonu". GNAT.
27. "Kadın Erkek Fırsat Eşitliği Komisyonu". GNAT.
28. "Milli Eğitim, Kültür, Gençlik ve Spor Komisyonu". GNAT.
29. "Milli Savunma Komisyonu". GNAT.
30. "Plan ve Bütçe Komisyonu". GNAT.
31. "Sağlık, Aile, Çalışma ve Sosyal İşler Komisyonu". GNAT.
32. "Sanayi, Ticaret, Enerji, Tabii Kaynaklar, Bilgi ve Teknoloji Komisyonu". GNAT.
33. Köroğlu, Veli. (December 2006). "Meclis Araştırması".
34. "Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi İçtüzüğü". tbmm.gov.tr.
35. "Avrupa Güvenlik ve İşbirliği Teşkilatı Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
36. "Kuzey Atlantik Antlaşması Örgütü Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
37. "Avrupa Konseyi Parlamenter Meclisi". GNAT.
38. "Türkiye - Avrupa Birliği Karma Parlamento Komisyonu". GNAT.
39. "İslam İş Birliği Teşkilatı Parlamento Birliği". GNAT.
40. "Asya Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
41. "Akdeniz İçin Birlik Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
42. "Parlamentolar Arası Birlik". GNAT.
43. "Karadeniz Ekonomik İşbirliği Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
44. "Akdeniz Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
45. "Türk Devletleri Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
46. "Ekonomik İşbirliği Teşkilatı Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
47. "Güney Doğu Avrupa İş Birliği Süreci Parlamenter Asamblesi". GNAT.
48. "And Parlamentosu". GNAT.
49. "Latin Amerikan ve Karayipler Parlamentosu". GNAT.
50. "Türkiye Parlamentosunda Açıklık ve Şeffaflık, Yasama Süreçlerine Sivil Katılım". tusev.org.tr.
51. "The Grand National Assembly of Turkey".
52. Yale, Pat. (2005). "Turkey". Lonely Planet.
53. [http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/yeni/eng/ Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey] {{Webarchive. link. (15 June 2009. Banknote Museum: 7. Emission Group – Fifty Thousand Turkish Lira – [http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/yeni/banknote/E7/298.htm I. Series] {{webarchive). link. (22 November 2008 & [http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/yeni/banknote/E7/300.htm II. Series] {{webarchive). link. (22 November 2008. Retrieved on 20 April 2009.)
54. (23 August 2016). "Meclis yaz dönemini tadilatla geçirecek". TRT News.
55. (2005). "Türk Demokrasi Tarihinde I. Meşrutiyet Dönemi". Gazi University.
56. (2008). "Yüzüncü Yılında II. Meşrutiyet'in İlanı Üzerine Bir İnceleme". Gazi University.
57. (2012). "Mütareke Dönemi'nde Ayan Meclisi'nin Çalışmaları". The Journal of International Social Research.
58. (2013). "İlk Osmanlı Seçimleri ve Parlamentosu". Sosyoloji Dergisi.
59. Kinross, Patrick. (1977). "The Ottoman Centuries: The Rise and Fall of the Turkish Empire". Morrow.
60. "The Fundamental Law and abolition of the sultanate".
61. "Olağanüstü yetkiler taşıyan bir meclisin Ankara'da toplanması kararı".
62. "Opposition".
63. "The military coup of 1960".
64. "The National Unity Committee".
65. "Turkey under the Democrats, 1950–60".
66. "History".
67. "The 1980s".
68. (4 April 2017). "1982 referandumu: Mavi, Beyaz'a karşı". BBC.
69. "AK Party under pressure: failed coup attempt, crackdown on dissidents, and economic crisis".
70. (17 April 2017). "Anayasa değişikliği kabul edildi! Yeni anayasa ne getiriyor?". Milliyet.
71. (20 September 2018). "Meclis yeni sisteme hazır: Bakanlar Kurulu sıraları kaldırıldı". [[CNN Türk]].
72. (April 2022). "Turkey reduces its election threshold from 10 to 7 percent - Turkish Minute".
73. "Yabancı Konukların Genel Kurulda konuşmaları". Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi.
74. (2015). "Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisindeki Yerleşik Uygulamalar". TBMM Basımevi.