Turkey's Constitution

PDF generated: 31 Jul 2018, 01:25
constituteproject.org
Turkey's Constitution of 1982

with Amendments through
2017
Some of the 2017 amendments have not yet entered into force; see the final article for more information.
This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the
Comparative Constitutions Project, and distributed on constituteproject.org.
constituteproject.org PDF generated: 31 Jul 2018, 01:25
Table of contents
Preamble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
PART ONE: General Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
I. Form of the State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
II. Characteristics of the Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
III. Integrity, official language, flag, national anthem, and capital of the State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
IV. Irrevocable provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
V. Fundamental aims and duties of the State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
VI. Sovereignty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
VII. Legislative power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
VIII. Executive power and function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
IX. Judicial power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
X. Equality before the law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
XI. Supremacy and binding force of the Constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
PART TWO: Fundamental Rights and Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

CHAPTER ONE: General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
I. Nature of fundamental rights and freedoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
II. Restriction of fundamental rights and freedoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
III. Prohibition of abuse of fundamental rights and freedoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
IV. Suspension of the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
V. Status of aliens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
CHAPTER TWO: Rights and Duties of the Individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
I. Personal inviolability, corporeal and spiritual existence of the individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
II. Prohibition of forced labour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
III. Personal liberty and security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
IV. Privacy and protection of private life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A. Privacy of private life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
B. Inviolability of the domicile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
C. Freedom of communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
V. Freedom of residence and movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
VI. Freedom of religion and conscience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
VII. Freedom of thought and opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
VIII. Freedom of expression and dissemination of thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
IX. Freedom of science and the arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
X. Provisions relating to the press and publication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
A. Freedom of the press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
B. Right to publish periodicals and non-periodicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
C. Protection of printing facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 2

D. Right to use media other than the press owned by public corporations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
E. Right of rectification and reply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
XI. Rights and freedoms of assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
A. Freedom of association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
B. Right to hold meetings and demonstration marches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
XII. Right to property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
XIII. Provisions on the protection of rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
A. Freedom to claim rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
B. Principle of natural judge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
C. Principles relating to offences and penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
XIV. Right to prove an allegation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
XV. Protection of fundamental rights and freedoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
CHAPTER THREE: Social and Economic Rights and Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
I. Protection of the family, and children’s rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
II. Right and duty of education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
III. Public interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
A. Utilization of the coasts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
B. Land ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
C. Protection of agriculture, animal husbandry, and persons engaged in these activities . . . . . 24
D. Expropriation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
E. Nationalization and privatization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
IV. Freedom of work and contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
V. Provisions relating to labour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
A. Right and duty to work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
B. Working conditions and right to rest and leisure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
C. Right to organize unions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
D. Activities of unions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
VI. Collective labour agreement, right to strike, and lockout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
A. Rights of collective labour agreement and collective agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
B. Right to strike, and lockout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
VII. Provision of fair wage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
VIII. Health, the environment and housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
A. Health services and protection of the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
B. Right to housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
IX. Youth and sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
A. Protection of the youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
B. Development of sports and arbitration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
X. Social security rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
A. Right to social security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

B. Persons requiring special protection in the field of social security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

C. Turkish citizens working abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
XI. Protection of historical, cultural and natural assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
XII. Protection of arts and artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
XIII. The extent of social and economic duties of the State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
CHAPTER FOUR: Political Rights and Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
I. Turkish citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
II. Right to vote, to be elected and to engage in political activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
III. Provisions relating to political parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
A. Forming parties, membership and withdrawal from membership in a party . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
B. Principles to be observed by political parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
IV. Right to enter public service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
A. Entry into public service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
B. Declaration of assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
V. National service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
VI. Duty to pay taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
VII. Right of petition, right to information and appeal to the Ombudsperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
PART THREE: Fundamental Organs of the Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

CHAPTER ONE: Legislative Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
I. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
A. Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
B. Eligibility to be a deputy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
C. Election term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
D. Deferment of elections and by-elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
E. General administration and supervision of elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
F. Provisions relating to membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
1. Representing the nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
2. Oath-taking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3. Activities incompatible with membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4. Parliamentary immunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
5. Loss of membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6. Application for annulment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
7. Salaries and travel allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
II. Duties and powers of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
A. General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
B. Introduction and deliberation of bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
C. Promulgation of laws by the President of the Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
D. Ratification of international treaties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

E. Authorization to issue decrees having the force of law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

F. Declaration of state of war and authorization to deploy the armed forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
III. Provisions relating to the activities of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey . . . . . . . . . . 40
A. Convening and recess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
B. Bureau of the Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
C. Rules of Procedure, political party groups and security affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
D. Quorums and majority for decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
E. Publicity and publication of debates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
IV. Ways of obtaining information and supervision by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey . 42
A. General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
B. Censure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
C. Parliamentary investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
CHAPTER TWO: The Executive Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
I. President of the Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
A. Nomination and election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
B. Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
C. Oath-taking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
D. Duties and powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
E. Criminal liability of the President of the Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
F. Vice-presidents of the Republic, acting president of the Republic and ministers . . . . . . . . . 46
G. General Secretariat of the President of the Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
H. State Supervisory Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
II. Council of Ministers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
A. Formation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
B. Taking office and vote of confidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
C. Vote of confidence while in office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
D. Functions and political responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
E. The formation of ministries, and ministers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
F. Provisional Council of Ministers during elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
G. Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
H. Renewal of elections to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the President of the
Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
I. National defence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
1. Offices of Commander-in-Chief and Chief of the General Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
2. National Security Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
III. State of emergency administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
IV. Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
A. Fundamentals of the administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
1. Integrity of the administration and public coporate bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

2. By-laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
B. Judicial review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
C. Establishment of the administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
1. Central administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
2. Local administrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
D. Provisions relating to public servants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
1. General principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
2. Duties and responsibilities, and guarantees in disciplinary proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
E. Institutions of higher education and their higher bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
1. Institutions of higher education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
2. Superior bodies of higher education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
3. Institutions of higher education subject to special provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
F. Radio and Television Supreme Council, institutions of radio and television, and public
affiliated news agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
G. The Atatürk High Institution of Culture, Language and History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
H. Professional organizations having the characteristics of public institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
I. Presidency of Religious Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
J. Unlawful order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
CHAPTER THREE: Judicial Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
I. General provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
A. Independence of the courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
B. Security of tenure of judges and public prosecutors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
C. Judges and public prosecutors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
D. Publicity of hearings and the necessity of justification for verdicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
E. Formation of courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
F. State Security Courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
G. Supervision of judicial services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
H. Military justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
II. Higher courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
A. Constitutional Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
1. Formation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
2. Term of office of the members and termination of membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
3. Functions and powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4. Procedure of functioning and trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
5. Annulment action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
6. Time limit for annulment action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
7. Claim of unconstitutionality before other courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
8. Decisions of the Constitutional Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
B. Court of Cassation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

C. Council of State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
D. High Military Court of Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
E. High Military Administrative Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
F. Court of Jurisdictional Disputes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
III. Council of Judges and Prosecutors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
IV. Court of Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
PART FOUR: Financial and Economic Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

CHAPTER ONE: Financial Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
I. Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
A. Budget and final accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
B. Debate on the budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
C. Principles governing budgetary amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
D. Final accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
E. Scrutiny of state economic enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
CHAPTER TWO: Economic Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
I. Planning; Economic and Social Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
II. Supervision of markets and regulation of foreign trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
III. Exploration and exploitation of natural resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
IV. Forests and the forest villagers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
A. Protection and development of forests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
B. Protection of forest villagers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
V. Developing cooperativism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
VI. Protection of consumers, tradespeople and artisans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
A. Protection of consumers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
B. Protection of tradespeople and artisans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
PART FIVE: Miscellaneous Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

I. Preservation of Reform Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
PART SIX: Provisional Articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

PART SEVEN: Final Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
I. Amending the Constitution, participation in elections and referenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
II. Preamble and headings of articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
III. Entry into force of the Constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
PROVISIONAL ARTICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE

ACT NO 2709 DATED OCTOBER 18 1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
1. Provision of the Act No. 4121 dated July 23, 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
2. Provision of the Act No. 4446 dated August 13, 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
3. Provisional Article of Act No. 4709 dated October 3, 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
4. Provisional Article of Act No. 4777 dated December 27, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

5. Provisions of the Act No.6771, dated January 21, 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

• Motives for writing constitution Preamble

• Political theorists/figures Affirming the eternal existence of the Turkish Motherland and Nation and the
indivisible unity of the Sublime Turkish State, this Constitution, in line with the
concept of nationalism introduced by the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Atatürk,
the immortal leader and the unrivalled hero, and his reforms and principles;
Determining to attain the everlasting existence, prosperity, material and spiritual
well-being of the Republic of Turkey, and the standards of contemporary civilization
as an honourable member with equal rights of the family of world nations;
The absolute supremacy of the will of the nation, the fact that sovereignty is vested
fully and unconditionally in the Turkish Nation and that no individual or body
empowered to exercise this sovereignty in the name of the nation shall deviate from
the liberal democracy indicated in the Constitution and the legal system instituted
according to its requirements,
The separation of powers, which does not imply an order of precedence among the
organs of the State, but refers solely to the exercising of certain state powers and
discharging of duties, and is limited to a civilized cooperation and division of
functions; and the fact that only the Constitution and the laws have the supremacy;
• Political theorists/figures That no protection shall be accorded to an activity contrary to Turkish national
interests, Turkish existence and the principle of its indivisibility with its State and
territory, historical and moral values of Turkishness; the nationalism, principles,
reforms and civilizationism of Atatürk and that sacred religious feelings shall
absolutely not be involved in state affairs and politics as required by the principle of
secularism;
That every Turkish citizen has an innate right and power, to lead an honourable life
and to improve his/her material and spiritual wellbeing under the aegis of national
culture, civilization, and the rule of law, through the exercise of the fundamental
rights and freedoms set forth in this Constitution, in conformity with the
requirements of equality and social justice;
That all Turkish citizens are united in national honour and pride, in national joy and
grief, in their rights and duties regarding national existence, in blessings and in
burdens, and in every manifestation of national life, and that they have the right to
demand a peaceful life based on absolute respect for one another’s rights and
freedoms, mutual love and fellowship, and the desire for and belief in “Peace at
home; peace in the world”;
With these IDEAS, BELIEFS, and RESOLUTIONS to be interpreted and implemented
accordingly, thus commanding respect for, and absolute loyalty to, its letter and
spirit;
Has been entrusted by the TURKISH NATION to the democracy-loving Turkish sons’
and daughters’ love for the motherland and nation.
PART ONE: General Principles
I. Form of the State
• Type of government envisioned ARTICLE 1

The State of Turkey is a Republic.

II. Characteristics of the Republic
• Political theorists/figures
• Separation of church and state
ARTICLE 2
• Reference to fraternity/solidarity
The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by rule of
law, within the notions of public peace, national solidarity and justice, respecting
human rights, loyal to the nationalism of Atatürk, and based on the fundamental
tenets set forth in the preamble.
III. Integrity, official language, flag, national anthem, and

capital of the State
ARTICLE 3
• Official or national languages The State of Turkey, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity. Its language
is Turkish.
• National flag Its flag, the form of which is prescribed by the relevant law, is composed of a white
crescent and star on a red background.
• National anthem Its national anthem is the “Independence March”.
• National capital Its capital is Ankara.
IV. Irrevocable provisions
• Unamendable provisions ARTICLE 4

The provision of Article 1 regarding the form of the State being a Republic, the
characteristics of the Republic in Article 2, and the provisions of Article 3 shall not be
amended, nor shall their amendment be proposed.
V. Fundamental aims and duties of the State
ARTICLE 5
The fundamental aims and duties of the State are to safeguard the independence and
integrity of the Turkish Nation, the indivisibility of the country, the Republic and
democracy, to ensure the welfare, peace, and happiness of the individual and society;
to strive for the removal of political, economic, and social obstacles which restrict
the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual in a manner incompatible with
the principles of justice and of the social state governed by rule of law; and to
provide the conditions required for the development of the individual’s material and
spiritual existence.
VI. Sovereignty
ARTICLE 6
Sovereignty belongs to the Nation without any restriction or condition.

The Turkish Nation shall exercise its sovereignty through the authorized organs, as
prescribed by the principles set forth in the Constitution.
The exercise of sovereignty shall not be delegated by any means to any individual,
group or class. No person or organ shall exercise any state authority that does not
emanate from the Constitution.
VII. Legislative power
ARTICLE 7
Legislative power is vested in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on behalf of
Turkish Nation. This power shall not be delegated.
VIII. Executive power and function
ARTICLE 8
Executive power and function shall be exercised and carried out by the President of
the Republic in conformity with the Constitution and laws.
IX. Judicial power
• Judicial independence ARTICLE 9

Judicial power shall be exercised by independent and impartial courts on behalf of
the Turkish Nation.
X. Equality before the law
ARTICLE 10
• General guarantee of equality Everyone is equal before the law without distinction as to language, race, colour, sex,
• Equality regardless of gender
• Equality regardless of skin color political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect, or any such grounds.
• Equality regardless of creed or belief
• Equality regardless of political party
• Equality regardless of race Men and women have equal rights. The State has the obligation to ensure that this
• Equality regardless of language equality exists in practice. Measures taken for this purpose shall not be interpreted
• Equality regardless of religion
as contrary to the principle of equality.
• Equality regardless of gender
Measures to be taken for children, the elderly, disabled people, widows and orphans
of martyrs as well as for the invalid and veterans shall not be considered as violation
of the principle of equality.
• Mentions of social class No privilege shall be granted to any individual, family, group or class.
State organs and administrative authorities are obliged to act in compliance with the
principle of equality before the law in all their proceedings.

XI. Supremacy and binding force of the Constitution
• Binding effect of const rights ARTICLE 11

The provisions of the Constitution are fundamental legal rules binding upon
legislative, executive and judicial organs, and administrative authorities and other
institutions and individuals.
Laws shall not be contrary to the Constitution.
PART TWO: Fundamental Rights and Duties
CHAPTER ONE: General Provisions
I. Nature of fundamental rights and freedoms
ARTICLE 12
Everyone possesses inherent fundamental rights and freedoms, which are inviolable
and inalienable.
The fundamental rights and freedoms also comprise the duties and responsibilities of
the individual to the society, his/her family, and other individuals.
II. Restriction of fundamental rights and freedoms
ARTICLE 13
Fundamental rights and freedoms may be restricted only by law and in conformity
with the reasons mentioned in the relevant articles of the Constitution without
infringing upon their essence. These restrictions shall not be contrary to the letter
and spirit of the Constitution and the requirements of the democratic order of the
society and the secular republic and the principle of proportionality.
III. Prohibition of abuse of fundamental rights and

freedoms
ARTICLE 14
None of the rights and freedoms embodied in the Constitution shall be exercised in
the form of activities aiming to violate the indivisible integrity of the State with its
territory and nation, and to endanger the existence of the democratic and secular
order of the Republic based on human rights.
No provision of this Constitution shall be interpreted in a manner that enables the
State or individuals to destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms recognized by
the Constitution or to stage an activity with the aim of restricting them more
extensively than stated in the Constitution.

The sanctions to be applied against those who perpetrate activities contrary to these

provisions shall be determined by law.
IV. Suspension of the exercise of fundamental rights and

freedoms
• Emergency provisions ARTICLE 15

• International law In times of war, mobilization or a state of emergency, the exercise of fundamental
rights and freedoms may be partially or entirely suspended or measures derogating
the guarantees embodied in the Constitution may be taken to the extent required by
the exigencies of the situation, as long as obligations under international law are not
violated.
Even under the circumstances indicated in the first paragraph, the individual’s right
to life, the integrity of his/her corporeal and spiritual existence shall be inviolable
except where death occurs through acts in conformity with law of war; no one shall
be compelled to reveal his/her religion, conscience, thought or opinion, nor be
accused on account of them; offences and penalties shall not be made retroactive;
nor shall anyone be held guilty until so proven by a court ruling.
V. Status of aliens
• International law
• Restrictions on rights of groups
ARTICLE 16
The fundamental rights and freedoms in respect to aliens may be restricted by law
compatible with international law.
CHAPTER TWO: Rights and Duties of the Individual
I. Personal inviolability, corporeal and spiritual existence

of the individual
ARTICLE 17
• Right to life Everyone has the right to life and the right to protect and improve his/her corporeal
and spiritual existence.
• Reference to science The corporeal integrity of the individual shall not be violated except under medical
necessity and in cases prescribed by law; and shall not be subjected to scientific or
medical experiments without his/her consent.
• Prohibition of corporal punishment No one shall be subjected to torture or mal-treatment; no one shall be subjected to
• Prohibition of cruel treatment
• Human dignity penalties or treatment incompatible with human dignity.
• Prohibition of torture
The acts of killing, when using a weapon is permitted by law as a compelling measure,
during self-defence, the execution of warrants of capture and arrest, the prevention
of the escape of lawfully arrested or convicted persons, the quelling of riot or
insurrection, or carrying out the orders of authorized bodies during state of
emergency, do not fall within the scope of the provision of the first paragraph.

II. Prohibition of forced labour
• Prohibition of slavery ARTICLE 18

No one shall be forced to work. Forced labour is prohibited.
Work required of an individual while serving a sentence or under detention provided
that the form and conditions of such labour are prescribed by law; services required
from citizens during a state of emergency; and physical or intellectual work
necessitated by the needs of the country as a civic obligation shall not be considered
as forced labour.
III. Personal liberty and security
• Protection from unjustified restraint ARTICLE 19

Everyone has the right to personal liberty and security.
• Power to deport citizens No one shall be deprived of his/her liberty except in the following cases where
• Restrictions on entry or exit
procedure and conditions are prescribed by law:
• Power to deport citizens Execution of sentences restricting liberty and the implementation of security
• Restrictions on entry or exit
measures decided by courts; arrest or detention of an individual in line with a court
ruling or an obligation upon him designated by law; execution of an order for the
purpose of the educational supervision of a minor, or for bringing him/her before the
competent authority; execution of measures taken in conformity with the relevant
provisions of law for the treatment, education or rehabilitation of a person of
unsound mind, an alcoholic, drug addict, vagrant, or a person spreading contagious
diseases to be carried out in institutions when such persons constitute a danger to
the public; arrest or detention of a person who enters or attempts to enter illegally
into the country or for whom a deportation or extradition order has been issued.
Individuals against whom there is strong evidence of having committed an offence
may be arrested by decision of a judge solely for the purposes of preventing escape,
or preventing the destruction or alteration of evidence, as well as in other
circumstances prescribed by law and necessitating detention. Arrest of a person
without a decision by a judge may be executed only when a person is caught in
flagrante delicto or in cases where delay is likely to thwart the course of justice; the
conditions for such acts shall be defined by law.
Individuals arrested or detained shall be promptly notified, in all cases in writing, or
orally when the former is not possible, of the grounds for their arrest or detention
and the charges against them; in cases of offences committed collectively this
notification shall be made, at the latest, before the individual is brought before a
judge.
The person arrested or detained shall be brought before a judge within at latest
forty-eight hours and in case of offences committed collectively within at most four
days, excluding the time required to send the individual to the court nearest to the
place of arrest. No one can be deprived of his/her liberty without the decision of a
judge after the expiry of the above specified periods. These periods may be extended
during a state of emergency or in time of war.
The next of kin shall be notified immediately when a person has been arrested or
detained.
Persons under detention shall have the right to request trial within a reasonable
time and to be released during investigation or prosecution. Release may be
conditioned by a guarantee as to ensure the presence of the person at the trial

• Right to pre-trial release PDF generated: 31 Jul 2018, 01:25
• Right to speedy trial
proceedings or the execution of the court sentence.

Persons whose liberties are restricted for any reason are entitled to apply to the
competent judicial authority for speedy conclusion of proceedings regarding their
situation and for their immediate release if the restriction imposed upon them is not
lawful.
• Protection from false imprisonment Damage suffered by persons subjected to treatment other than these provisions
shall be compensated by the State in accordance with the general principles of the
compensation law.
IV. Privacy and protection of private life
A. Privacy of private life
• Right to privacy ARTICLE 20

Everyone has the right to demand respect for his/her private and family life. Privacy
of private or family life shall not be violated.
• Regulation of evidence collection Unless there exists a decision duly given by a judge on one or several of the grounds
of national security, public order, prevention of crime, protection of public health
and public morals, or protection of the rights and freedoms of others, or unless there
exists a written order of an agency authorized by law, in cases where delay is
prejudicial, again on the above-mentioned grounds, neither the person, nor the
private papers, nor belongings of an individual shall be searched nor shall they be
seized. The decision of the competent authority shall be submitted for the approval
of the judge having jurisdiction within twenty-four hours. The judge shall announce
his decision within forty-eight hours from the time of seizure; otherwise, seizure
shall automatically be lifted.
Everyone has the right to request the protection of his/her personal data. This right
includes being informed of, having access to and requesting the correction and
deletion of his/her personal data, and to be informed whether these are used in
consistency with envisaged objectives. Personal data can be processed only in cases
envisaged by law or by the person’s explicit consent. The principles and procedures
regarding the protection of personal data shall be laid down in law.
B. Inviolability of the domicile
• Regulation of evidence collection

• Right to privacy
ARTICLE 21
The domicile of an individual shall not be violated. Unless there exists a decision duly
given by a judge on one or several of the grounds of national security, public order,
prevention of crime, protection of public health and public morals, or protection of
the rights and freedoms of others, or unless there exists a written order of an agency
authorized by law in cases where delay is prejudicial, again on these grounds, no
domicile may be entered or searched or the property seized therein. The decision of
the competent authority shall be submitted for the approval of the judge having
jurisdiction within twenty-four hours. The judge shall announce his decision within
forty-eight hours from the time of seizure; otherwise, seizure shall be automatically
lifted.

C. Freedom of communication
• Right to privacy ARTICLE 22

Everyone has the freedom of communication. Privacy of communication is
fundamental.
• Regulation of evidence collection Unless there exists a decision duly given by a judge on one or several of the grounds
of national security, public order, prevention of crime, protection of public health
and public morals, or protection of the rights and freedoms of others, or unless there
exists a written order of an agency authorized by law in cases where delay is
prejudicial, again on the above-mentioned grounds, communication shall not be
impeded nor its privacy be violated. The decision of the competent authority shall be
submitted for the approval of the judge having jurisdiction within twenty-four hours.
The judge shall announce his decision within forty-eight hours from the time of
seizure; otherwise, seizure shall be automatically lifted.
Public institutions and agencies where exceptions may be applied are prescribed in
law.
V. Freedom of residence and movement
• Freedom of movement ARTICLE 23

Everyone has the freedom of residence and movement.
Freedom of residence may be restricted by law for the purpose of preventing crimes,
promoting social and economic development, achieving sound and orderly
urbanization, and protecting public property.
Freedom of movement may be restricted by law for the purpose of investigation and
prosecution of an offence, and prevention of crimes.
• Restrictions on entry or exit A citizen’s freedom to leave the country may be restricted only by the decision of a
judge based on a criminal investigation or prosecution.
Citizens shall not be deported, or deprived of their right of entry into the homeland.
VI. Freedom of religion and conscience
• Freedom of religion ARTICLE 24

Everyone has the freedom of conscience, religious belief and conviction.
Acts of worship, religious rites and ceremonies shall be conducted freely, as long as
they do not violate the provisions of Article 14.
No one shall be compelled to worship, or to participate in religious rites and
ceremonies, or to reveal religious beliefs and convictions, or be blamed or accused
because of his religious beliefs and convictions.
Religious and moral education and instruction shall be conducted under state
supervision and control. Instruction in religious culture and morals shall be one of
the compulsory lessons in the curricula of primary and secondary schools. Other
religious education and instruction shall be subject to the individual’s own desire,
and in the case of minors, to the request of their legal representatives.

No one shall be allowed to exploit or abuse religion or religious feelings, or things

held sacred by religion, in any manner whatsoever, for the purpose of personal or
political interest or influence, or for even partially basing the fundamental, social,
economic, political, and legal order of the State on religious tenets.
VII. Freedom of thought and opinion
• Freedom of opinion/thought/conscience ARTICLE 25

Everyone has the freedom of thought and opinion.
No one shall be compelled to reveal his/her thoughts and opinions for any reason or
purpose; nor shall anyone be blamed or accused because of his/her thoughts and
opinions.
VIII. Freedom of expression and dissemination of thought
• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of press
ARTICLE 26
• Radio Everyone has the right to express and disseminate his/her thoughts and opinions by
• Telecommunications
• Television speech, in writing or in pictures or through other media, individually or collectively.
This freedom includes the liberty of receiving or imparting information or ideas
without interference by official authorities. This provision shall not preclude
subjecting transmission by radio, television, cinema, or similar means to a system of
licensing.
The exercise of these freedoms may be restricted for the purposes of national
security, public order, public safety, safeguarding the basic characteristics of the
Republic and the indivisible integrity of the State with its territory and nation,
preventing crime, punishing offenders, withholding information duly classified as a
state secret, protecting the reputation or rights and private and family life of others,
or protecting professional secrets as prescribed by law, or ensuring the proper
functioning of the judiciary.
Regulatory provisions concerning the use of means to disseminate information and
thoughts shall not be deemed as the restriction of freedom of expression and
dissemination of thoughts as long as the transmission of information and thoughts is
not prevented.
The formalities, conditions and procedures to be applied in exercising the freedom of
expression and dissemination of thought shall be prescribed by law.
IX. Freedom of science and the arts
• Right to academic freedom

• Reference to art
ARTICLE 27
• Reference to science
Everyone has the right to study and teach, express, and disseminate science and the
arts, and to carry out research in these fields freely.
The right to disseminate shall not be exercised for the purpose of changing the
provisions of articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Constitution.
The provision of this article shall not preclude regulation by law of the entry and
distribution of foreign publications in the country.

X. Provisions relating to the press and publication
A. Freedom of the press
• Freedom of press ARTICLE 28

The press is free, and shall not be censored. The establishment of a printing house
shall not be subject to prior permission or the deposit of a financial guarantee.
The State shall take the necessary measures to ensure freedom of the press and
information.
In the limitation of freedom of the press, the provisions of articles 26 and 27 of the
Constitution shall apply.
Anyone who writes any news or articles which threaten the internal or external
security of the State or the indivisible integrity of the State with its territory and
nation, which tend to incite offence, riot or insurrection, or which refer to classified
state secrets or has them printed, and anyone who prints or transmits such news or
articles to others for the purposes above, shall be held responsible under the law
relevant to these offences. Distribution may be prevented as a precautionary
measure by the decision of a judge, or in case delay is deemed prejudicial, by the
competent authority explicitly designated by law. The authority preventing the
distribution shall notify a competent judge of its decision within twenty-four hours at
the latest. The order preventing distribution shall become null and void unless
upheld by a competent judge within forty-eight hours at the latest.
No ban shall be placed on the reporting of events, except by the decision of judge
issued within the limits specified by law, to ensure proper functioning of the
judiciary.
Periodical and non-periodical publications may be seized by a decision of a judge in
cases of ongoing investigation or prosecution of crimes specified by law; or by order
of the competent authority explicitly designated by law, in situations where delay
may constitute a prejudice with respect to the protection of the indivisible integrity
of the State with its territory and nation, national security, public order or public
morals and for the prevention of crime. The competent authority issuing the order to
seize shall notify a competent judge of its decision within twenty-four hours at the
latest; the order to seize shall become null and void unless upheld by a judge within
forty-eight hours at the latest.
General provisions shall apply when seizing and confiscating periodicals and
non-periodicals for reasons of criminal investigation and prosecution.
Periodicals published in Turkey may be temporarily suspended by court ruling if
found to contain material which contravenes the indivisible integrity of the State
with its territory and nation, the fundamental principles of the Republic, national
security and public morals. Any publication which clearly bears the characteristics of
being a continuation of a suspended periodical is prohibited; and shall be seized by
decision of a judge.
B. Right to publish periodicals and non-periodicals
• Freedom of press ARTICLE 29

Publication of periodicals or non-periodicals shall not be subject to prior
authorization or the deposit of a financial guarantee.

Submission of the information and documents specified by law to the competent

authority designated by law is sufficient to publish a periodical. If these information
and documents are found to contravene the laws, the competent authority shall
apply to the court for suspension of publication.
The principles regarding the publication, the conditions of publication and the
financial resources of periodicals, and the profession of journalism shall be regulated
by law. The law shall not impose any political, economic, financial, and technical
conditions obstructing or making difficult the free dissemination of news, thoughts,
or opinions.
Periodicals shall have equal access to the means and facilities of the State, other
public corporate bodies, and their agencies.
C. Protection of printing facilities
ARTICLE 30
A printing house and its annexes, duly established as a press enterprise under law,
and press equipment shall not be seized, confiscated, or barred from operation on
the grounds of having been used in a crime.
D. Right to use media other than the press owned by public

corporations
• State operation of the media ARTICLE 31

Individuals and political parties have the right to use mass media and means of
communication other than the press owned by public corporations. The conditions
and procedures for such use shall be regulated by law.
The law shall not impose restrictions preventing the public from receiving
information or accessing ideas and opinions through these media, or preventing
public opinion from being freely formed, on the grounds other than national security,
public order, or the protection of public morals and health.
E. Right of rectification and reply
• Right to protect one's reputation ARTICLE 32

The right of rectification and reply shall be accorded only in cases where personal
reputation and honour is injured or in case of publications of unfounded allegation
and shall be regulated by law.
If a rectification or reply is not published, the judge decides, within seven days of
appeal by the individual involved, whether or not this publication is required.

XI. Rights and freedoms of assembly
A. Freedom of association
• Freedom of association ARTICLE 33

• Restrictions on the armed forces Everyone has the right to form associations, or become a member of an association,
or withdraw from membership without prior permission.
No one shall be compelled to become or remain a member of an association.
Freedom of association may be restricted only by law on the grounds of national
security, public order, prevention of commission of crime, public morals, public
health and protecting the freedoms of other individuals.
The formalities, conditions, and procedures to be applied in the exercise of freedom
of association shall be prescribed by law.
Associations may be dissolved or suspended from activity by the decision of a judge
in cases prescribed by law. However, where it is required for, and a delay constitutes
a prejudice to, national security, public order, prevention of commission or
continuation of a crime, or an arrest, an authority may be vested with power by law
to suspend the association from activity. The decision of this authority shall be
submitted for the approval of the judge having jurisdiction within twenty-four hours.
The judge shall announce his/her decision within forty-eight hours; otherwise, this
administrative decision shall be annulled automatically.
• Restrictions on the armed forces Provisions of the first paragraph shall not prevent imposition of restrictions on the
rights of armed forces and security forces officials and civil servants to the extent
that the duties of civil servants so require.
The provisions of this article shall also apply to foundations.
B. Right to hold meetings and demonstration marches
• Freedom of assembly ARTICLE 34

Everyone has the right to hold unarmed and peaceful meetings and demonstration
marches without prior permission.
The right to hold meetings and demonstration marches shall be restricted only by
law on the grounds of national security, public order, prevention of commission of
crime, protection of public health and public morals or the rights and freedoms of
others.
The formalities, conditions, and procedures to be applied in the exercise of the right
to hold meetings and demonstration marches shall be prescribed by law.
XII. Right to property
• Right to own property

• Right to transfer property
ARTICLE 35
Everyone has the right to own and inherit property.
These rights may be limited by law only in view of public interest.
The exercise of the right to property shall not contravene public interest.

XIII. Provisions on the protection of rights
A. Freedom to claim rights
• Right to fair trial ARTICLE 36

Everyone has the right of litigation either as plaintiff or defendant and the right to a
fair trial before the courts through legitimate means and procedures.
No court shall refuse to hear a case within its jurisdiction.
B. Principle of natural judge
ARTICLE 37
No one may be tried by any judicial authority other than the legally designated court.
Extraordinary tribunals with jurisdiction that would in effect remove a person from
the jurisdiction of his legally designated court shall not be established.
C. Principles relating to offences and penalties
ARTICLE 38
• Protection from ex post facto laws No one shall be punished for any act which does not constitute a criminal offence
• Principle of no punishment without law
under the law in force at the time committed; no one shall be given a heavier penalty
for an offence other than the penalty applicable at the time when the offence was
committed.
The provisions of the above paragraph shall also apply to the statute of limitations on
offences and penalties and on the results of conviction.
Penalties, and security measures in lieu of penalties, shall be prescribed only by law.
• Presumption of innocence in trials No one shall be considered guilty until proven guilty in a court of law.
• Protection from self-incrimination No one shall be compelled to make a statement that would incriminate
himself/herself or his/her legal next of kin, or to present such incriminating evidence.
• Regulation of evidence collection Findings obtained through illegal methods shall not be considered evidence.
Criminal responsibility shall be personal.
• Rights of debtors No one shall be deprived of his/her liberty merely on the ground of inability to fulfil a
contractual obligation.
• Prohibition of capital punishment Neither death penalty nor general confiscation shall be imposed as punishment.
The administration shall not impose any sanction resulting in restriction of personal
liberty. Exceptions to this provision may be introduced by law regarding the internal
order of the armed forces.
• Extradition procedure No citizen shall be extradited to a foreign country because of an offence, except
under obligations resulting from being a party to the International Criminal Court.

XIV. Right to prove an allegation
ARTICLE 39
In libel and defamation suits involving allegations against persons in the public
service in connection with their functions or services, the defendant has the right to
prove the allegations. A plea for presenting proof shall not be granted in any other
case, unless finding out whether the allegation is true or not would serve the public
interest, or unless the plaintiff consents.
XV. Protection of fundamental rights and freedoms
• Ultra-vires administrative actions ARTICLE 40

Everyone whose constitutional rights and freedoms have been violated has the right
to request prompt access to the competent authorities.
The State is obliged to indicate in its proceedings, the legal remedies and authorities
the persons concerned should apply and time limits of the applications.
Damages incurred to any person through unlawful treatment by public officials shall
be compensated for by the State as per the law. The state reserves the right of
recourse to the official responsible.
CHAPTER THREE: Social and Economic Rights and Duties
I. Protection of the family, and children’s rights
ARTICLE 41
• Right to found a family Family is the foundation of the Turkish society and based on the equality between
• Provision for matrimonial equality
the spouses.
• Right to found a family The State shall take the necessary measures and establish the necessary
organization to protect peace and welfare of the family, especially mother and
children, and to ensure the instruction of family planning and its practice.
• Rights of children Every child has the right to protection and care and the right to have and maintain a
personal and direct relation with his/her mother and father unless it is contrary to
his/her high interests.
• State support for children The State shall take measures for the protection of the children against all kinds of
abuse and violence.
II. Right and duty of education
ARTICLE 42
No one shall be deprived of the right of education.
The scope of the right to education shall be defined and regulated by law.
Education shall be conducted along the lines of the principles and reforms of Atatürk,
based on contemporary scientific and educational principles, under the supervision
and control of the State. Educational institutions contravening these principles shall

• Political theorists/figures PDF generated: 31 Jul 2018, 01:25
not be established.
• Duty to obey the constitution The freedom of education does not relieve the individual from loyalty to the
Constitution.
• Compulsory education Primary education is compulsory for all citizens of both sexes and is free of charge in
• Free education
state schools.
The principles governing the functioning of private primary and secondary schools
shall be regulated by law in keeping with the standards set for the state schools.
The State shall provide scholarships and other means of assistance to enable
students of merit lacking financial means to continue their education. The State shall
take necessary measures to rehabilitate those in need of special education so as to
render such people useful to society.
Training, education, research, and study are the only activities that shall be pursued
at institutions of education. These activities shall not be obstructed in any way.
• International law No language other than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue to Turkish
• Official or national languages
citizens at any institution of education. Foreign languages to be taught in institutions
of education and the rules to be followed by schools conducting education in a
foreign language shall be determined by law. The provisions of international treaties
are reserved.
III. Public interest
A. Utilization of the coasts
• Ownership of natural resources ARTICLE 43

The coasts are under the authority and disposal of the State.
In the utilization of sea coasts, lake shores or river banks, and of the coastal strip
along the sea and lakes, public interest shall be taken into consideration with
priority.
The width of coasts and coastal strips according to the purpose of utilization and the
conditions of utilization by individuals shall be determined by law.
B. Land ownership
ARTICLE 44
The State shall take the necessary measures to maintain and develop efficient land
cultivation, to prevent its loss through erosion, and to provide land to farmers with
insufficient land of their own, or no land. For this purpose, the law may define the
size of appropriate land units, according to different agricultural regions and types of
farming. Provision of land to farmers with no or insufficient land shall not lead to a
fall in production, or to the depletion of forests and other land and underground
resources.
Lands distributed for this purpose shall neither be divided nor be transferred to
others, except through inheritance, and shall be cultivated only by the farmers to
whom the lands have been distributed, and their heirs. In the event of loss of these
conditions, the principles relating to the recovery by the State of the land thus
distributed shall be prescribed by law.

C. Protection of agriculture, animal husbandry, and

persons engaged in these activities
ARTICLE 45
The State facilitates farmers and livestock breeders in acquiring machinery,
equipment and other inputs in order to prevent improper use and destruction of
agricultural land, meadows and pastures and to increase crop and livestock
production in accordance with the principles of agricultural planning.
The State shall take necessary measures for the utilization of crop and livestock
products, and to enable producers to be paid the real value of their products.
D. Expropriation
• Protection from expropriation ARTICLE 46

The State and public corporations shall be entitled, where the public interest
requires, to expropriate privately owned real estate wholly or in part and impose
administrative servitude on it, in accordance with the principles and procedures
prescribed by law, provided that the actual compensation is paid in advance.
The compensation for expropriation and the amount regarding its increase rendered
by a final judgment shall be paid in cash and in advance. However, the procedure to
be applied for compensation for expropriated land for the purposes of carrying out
agriculture reform, major energy and irrigation projects, and housing and
resettlement schemes, afforestation, and protecting the coasts, and tourism shall be
regulated by law. In the cases where the law may allow payment in instalments, the
payment period shall not exceed five years, whence payments shall be made in equal
instalments.
Compensation for the land expropriated from the small farmer who cultivates
his/her own land shall be paid in advance in all cases.
An interest equivalent to the highest interest paid on public claims shall apply in the
instalments envisaged in the second paragraph and expropriation costs not paid for
any reason.
E. Nationalization and privatization
ARTICLE 47
Private enterprises performing services of public nature may be nationalized in
exigencies of public interest.
Nationalization shall be carried out on the basis of real value. The methods and
procedures for calculating real value shall be prescribed by law.
Principles and rules concerning the privatization of enterprises and assets owned by
the State, state economic enterprises, and other public corporate bodies shall be
prescribed by law.
Those investments and services carried out by the State, state economic enterprises
and other public corporate bodies, which could be performed by or delegated to
persons or corporate bodies through private law contracts shall be determined by
law.

IV. Freedom of work and contract
• Right to establish a business

• Right to choose occupation
ARTICLE 48
Everyone has the freedom to work and conclude contracts in the field of his/her
choice. Establishment of private enterprises is free.
The State shall take measures to ensure that private enterprises operate in
accordance with national economic requirements and social objectives and in
security and stability.
V. Provisions relating to labour
A. Right and duty to work
• Right to work ARTICLE 49

• Duty to work Everyone has the right and duty to work.
• Right to reasonable standard of living The State shall take the necessary measures to raise the standard of living of
workers, and to protect workers and the unemployed in order to improve the
general conditions of labour, to promote labour, to create suitable economic
conditions for prevention of unemployment and to secure labour peace.
B. Working conditions and right to rest and leisure
ARTICLE 50
• Limits on employment of children No one shall be required to perform work unsuited to his/her age, sex, and capacity.
• Limits on employment of children Minors, women, and physically and mentally disabled persons, shall enjoy special
protection with regard to working conditions.
• Right to rest and leisure All workers have the right to rest and leisure.
• Right to rest and leisure Rights and conditions relating to paid weekends and holidays, together with paid
annual leave, shall be regulated by law.
C. Right to organize unions
• Right to join trade unions ARTICLE 51

Employees and employers have the right to form unions and higher organizations,
without prior permission, and they also possess the right to become a member of a
union and to freely withdraw from membership, in order to safeguard and develop
their economic and social rights and the interests of their members in their labour
relations. No one shall be forced to become a member of a union or to withdraw from
membership.
The right to form a union shall be solely restricted by law on the grounds of national
security, public order, prevention of commission of crime, public health, public
morals and protecting the rights and freedoms of others.
The formalities, conditions and procedures to be applied in exercising the right to
form union shall be prescribed by law.

The scope, exceptions and limits of the rights of civil servants who do not have a
worker status are prescribed by law in line with the characteristics of their services.
The regulations, administration and functioning of unions and their higher bodies
shall not be inconsistent with the fundamental characteristics of the Republic and
principles of democracy.
D. Activities of unions
ARTICLE 52
(Repealed on July 23, 1995; Act No. 4121)
VI. Collective labour agreement, right to strike, and

lockout
A. Rights of collective labour agreement and collective

agreement
ARTICLE 53
Workers and employers have the right to conclude collective labour agreements in
order to regulate reciprocally their economic and social position and conditions of
work.
The procedure to be followed in concluding collective labour agreements shall be
regulated by law.
Public servants and other public employees have the right to conclude collective
agreements.
The parties may apply to the Public Servants Arbitration Board if a disagreement
arises during the process of collective agreement.
The decisions of the Public Servants Arbitration Board shall be final and have the
force of a collective agreement.
The scope of and the exceptions to the right of collective agreement, the persons to
benefit from and the form, procedure and entry into force of collective agreement
and the extension of the provisions of collective agreement to those retired, as well
as the organization and operating procedures and principles of the Public Servants
Arbitration Board and other matters shall be laid down in law.
B. Right to strike, and lockout
• Right to strike ARTICLE 54

Workers have the right to strike during the collective bargaining process if a
disagreement arises. The procedures and conditions governing the exercise of this
right and the employer’s recourse to a lockout, the scope of, and the exceptions to
them shall be regulated by law.
The right to strike and lockout shall not be exercised in a manner contrary to the
rules of goodwill, to the detriment of society, and in a manner damaging national
wealth.

The circumstances and workplaces in which strikes and lockouts may be prohibited
or postponed shall be regulated by law.
In cases where a strike or a lockout is prohibited or postponed, the dispute shall be
settled by the Supreme Arbitration Board at the end of the period of postponement.
The disputing parties may apply to the Supreme Arbitration Board by mutual
agreement at any stage of the dispute. The decisions of the Supreme Arbitration
Board shall be final and have the force of a collective labour agreement.
The organization and functions of the Supreme Arbitration Board shall be regulated
by law.
Those who refuse to go on strike shall in no way be barred from working at their
workplace by strikers.
VII. Provision of fair wage
• Right to equal pay for work ARTICLE 55

Wages shall be paid in return for work.
The state shall take the necessary measures to ensure that workers earn a fair wage
commensurate with the work they perform and that they enjoy other social benefits.
• Right to reasonable standard of living In determining the minimum wage, the living conditions of the workers and the
economic situation of the country shall also be taken into account.
VIII. Health, the environment and housing
A. Health services and protection of the environment
• Right to health care ARTICLE 56

• Protection of environment Everyone has the right to live in a healthy and balanced environment.
• Protection of environment It is the duty of the State and citizens to improve the natural environment, to protect
the environmental health and to prevent environmental pollution.
The State shall regulate central planning and functioning of the health services to
ensure that everyone leads a healthy life physically and mentally, and provide
cooperation by saving and increasing productivity in human and material resources.
The State shall fulfil this task by utilizing and supervising the health and social
assistance institutions, in both the public and private sectors.
In order to establish widespread health services, general health insurance may be
introduced by law.
B. Right to housing
• Right to shelter ARTICLE 57

The State shall take measures to meet the need for housing within the framework of
a plan that takes into account the characteristics of cities and environmental
conditions, and also support community housing projects.

IX. Youth and sports
A. Protection of the youth
• State support for children ARTICLE 58

• Political theorists/figures The State shall take measures to ensure the education and development of the youth
into whose keeping our independence and our Republic are entrusted, in the light of
positive science, in line with the principles and reforms of Atatürk, and in opposition
to ideas aiming at the destruction of the indivisible integrity of the State with its
territory and nation.
The State shall take necessary measures to protect youth from addiction to alcohol
and drugs, crime, gambling, and similar vices, and ignorance.
B. Development of sports and arbitration
ARTICLE 59
The State shall take measures to develop the physical and mental health of Turkish
citizens of all ages, and encourage the spread of sports among the masses.
The state shall protect successful athletes.
The decisions of sport federations relating to administration and discipline of
sportive activities may be challenged only through compulsory arbitration. The
decisions of Board of Arbitration are final and shall not be appealed to any judicial
authority.
X. Social security rights
A. Right to social security
ARTICLE 60
Everyone has the right to social security.
The State shall take the necessary measures and establish the organisation for the
provision of social security.
B. Persons requiring special protection in the field of social

security
ARTICLE 61
• State support for children The State shall protect the widows and orphans of martyrs of war and duty, together
with invalid and war veterans, and ensure that they enjoy a decent standard of living.
• State support for the disabled The State shall take measures to protect the disabled and secure their integration
into community life.
• State support for the elderly The aged shall be protected by the State. State assistance to, and other rights and
benefits of the aged shall be regulated by law.

• State support for children The State shall take all kinds of measures for social resettlement of children in need
of protection.
To achieve these aims the State shall establish the necessary organizations or
facilities, or arrange for their establishment.
C. Turkish citizens working abroad
• Right to culture ARTICLE 62

The State shall take the necessary measures to ensure family unity, the education of
the children, the cultural needs, and the social security of Turkish citizens working
abroad, and to safeguard their ties with the home country and to help them on their
return home.
XI. Protection of historical, cultural and natural assets
• Right to culture ARTICLE 63

The State shall ensure the protection of the historical, cultural and natural assets and
wealth, and shall take supportive and promotive measures towards that end.
Any limitations to be imposed on such privately owned assets and wealth and the
compensation and exemptions to be accorded to the owners of such, because of
these limitations, shall be regulated by law.
XII. Protection of arts and artists
• Reference to art ARTICLE 64

The State shall protect artistic activities and artists. The State shall take the
necessary measures to protect, promote and support works of art and artists, and
encourage the spread of appreciation for the arts.
XIII. The extent of social and economic duties of the State
ARTICLE 65
The State shall fulfil its duties as laid down in the Constitution in the social and
economic fields within the capacity of its financial resources, taking into
consideration the priorities appropriate with the aims of these duties.
CHAPTER FOUR: Political Rights and Duties
I. Turkish citizenship
• Requirements for birthright citizenship

• Conditions for revoking citizenship
ARTICLE 66
Everyone bound to the Turkish State through the bond of citizenship is a Turk.
The child of a Turkish father or a Turkish mother is a Turk.

• Requirements for naturalization Citizenship can be acquired under the conditions stipulated by law, and shall be
forfeited only in cases determined by law.
No Turk shall be deprived of citizenship, unless he/she commits an act incompatible
with loyalty to the motherland.
Recourse to the courts in appeal against the decisions and proceedings related to the
deprivation of citizenship shall not be denied.
II. Right to vote, to be elected and to engage in political

activity
• Referenda
• Restrictions on voting
ARTICLE 67
In conformity with the conditions set forth in the law, citizens have the right to vote,
to be elected, to engage in political activities independently or in a political party, and
to take part in a referendum.
• Secret ballot Elections and referenda shall be held under the direction and supervision of the
• Claim of universal suffrage
judiciary, in accordance with the principles of free, equal, secret, direct, universal
suffrage, and public counting of the votes. However, the law determines applicable
measures for Turkish citizens abroad to exercise their right to vote.
All Turkish citizens over eighteen years of age shall have the right to vote in elections
and to take part in referenda.
The exercise of these rights shall be regulated by law.
• Restrictions on the armed forces Privates and corporals at arms, cadets, and convicts in penal execution institutions
excluding those convicted of negligent offences shall not vote. The necessary
measures to be taken to ensure the safety of voting and the counting of the votes in
penal execution institutions and prisons shall be determined by the Supreme Board
of Election; such voting is held under the on-site direction and supervision of
authorized judge.
The electoral laws shall be drawn up so as to reconcile the principles of fair
representation and stability of government.
Amendments to the electoral laws shall not apply to the elections to be held within
one year from the entry into force date of the amendments.
III. Provisions relating to political parties
A. Forming parties, membership and withdrawal from

membership in a party
• Restrictions on political parties ARTICLE 68

• Right to form political parties Citizens have the right to form political parties and duly join and withdraw from
them. One must be over eighteen years of age to become a member of a party.
Political parties are indispensable elements of democratic political life.
Political parties shall be formed without prior permission, and shall pursue their
activities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Constitution and laws.
The statutes and programs, as well as the activities of political parties shall not be
contrary to the independence of the State, its indivisible integrity with its territory
and nation, human rights, the principles of equality and rule of law, sovereignty of

the nation, the principles of the democratic and secular republic; they shall not aim to
promote or establish class or group dictatorship or dictatorship of any kind, nor shall
they incite citizens to crime.
• Restrictions on the armed forces Judges and prosecutors, members of higher judicial organs including those of the
Court of Accounts, civil servants in public institutions and organizations, other public
servants who are not considered to be labourers by virtue of the services they
perform, members of the armed forces and students who are not yet in higher
education, shall not become members of political parties.
The membership of the teaching staff at higher education to political parties is
regulated by law. This law shall not allow those members to assume responsibilities
outside the central organs of the political parties and it also sets forth the regulations
which the teaching staff at higher education institutions shall observe as members of
political parties in the higher education institutions.
The principles concerning the membership of students at higher education to
political parties are regulated by law.
• Campaign financing The State shall provide the political parties with adequate financial means in an
equitable manner. The principles regarding aid to political parties, as well as
collection of dues and donations are regulated by law.
B. Principles to be observed by political parties
• Restrictions on political parties

• Regulation of political parties
ARTICLE 69
The activities, internal regulations and operation of political parties shall be in line
with democratic principles. The application of these principles is regulated by law.
Political parties shall not engage in commercial activities.
• Constitutional court powers The income and expenditure of political parties shall be consistent with their
objectives. The application of this rule is regulated by law. The auditing of
acquisitions, revenue and expenditure of political parties by the Constitutional Court
in terms of conformity to law as well as the methods of audit and sanctions to be
applied in case of inconformity to law shall be indicated in law. The Constitutional
Court shall be assisted by the Court of Accounts in performing its task of auditing.
The judgments rendered by the Constitutional Court because of the auditing shall be
final.
• Constitutional court powers The dissolution of political parties shall be decided finally by the Constitutional
Court after the filing of a suit by the office of the Chief Public Prosecutor of the
Court of Cassation.
The permanent dissolution of a political party shall be decided when it is established
that the statute and program of the political party violate the provisions of the
fourth paragraph of Article 68.
The decision to dissolve a political party permanently owing to activities violating
the provisions of the fourth paragraph of Article 68 may be rendered only when the
Constitutional Court determines that the party in question has become a centre for
the execution of such activities. A political party shall be deemed to become the
centre of such actions only when such actions are carried out intensively by the
members of that party or the situation is shared implicitly or explicitly by the grand
congress, general chairpersonship or the central decision-making or administrative
organs of that party or by the group’s general meeting or group executive board at
the Grand National Assembly of Turkey or when these activities are carried out in
determination by the above- mentioned party organs directly.
Instead of dissolving it permanently in accordance with the above-mentioned
paragraphs, the Constitutional Court may rule the concerned party to be deprived of

• Constitutional court powers
state aid wholly or in part with respect to intensity of the actions brought before the
court.
A party which has been dissolved permanently shall not be founded under another
name.
The members, including the founders of a political party whose acts or statements
have caused the party to be dissolved permanently shall not be founders, members,
directors or supervisors in any other party for a period of five years from the date of
publication of the Constitutional Court’s final decision with its justification for
permanently dissolving the party in the Official Gazette.
• International organizations Political parties that accept aid from foreign states, international institutions and
persons and corporate bodies of non-Turkish nationality shall be dissolved
permanently.
• Campaign financing The foundation and activities of political parties, their supervision and dissolution, or
their deprival of state aid wholly or in part as well as the election expenditures and
procedures of the political parties and candidates, are regulated by law in
accordance with the above-mentioned principles.
IV. Right to enter public service
A. Entry into public service
• Civil service recruitment ARTICLE 70

Every Turk has the right to enter public service.
No criteria other than the qualifications for the office concerned shall be taken into
consideration for recruitment into public service.
B. Declaration of assets
• Earnings disclosure requirement ARTICLE 71

Declaration of assets by persons entering public service and the frequency of such
declarations shall be determined by law. Those serving in the legislative and
executive organs shall not be exempted from this requirement.
V. National service
• Duty to serve in the military ARTICLE 72

National service is the right and duty of every Turk. The manner in which this service
shall be performed, or considered as performed, either in the armed forces or in
public service, shall be regulated by law.
VI. Duty to pay taxes
ARTICLE 73
• Duty to pay taxes Everyone is under obligation to pay taxes according to his financial resources, in
order to meet public expenditure.

An equitable and balanced distribution of the tax burden is the social objective of
fiscal policy.
Taxes, fees, duties, and other such financial obligations shall be imposed, amended,
or revoked by law.
• Head of state powers The President of the Republic may be empowered to amend the percentages of
exemption, exceptions and reductions in taxes, fees, duties and other such financial
obligations, within the minimum and maximum limits prescribed by law.
VII. Right of petition, right to information and appeal to the

Ombudsperson
• Ombudsman
• Right of petition
ARTICLE 74
Citizens and foreigners resident in Turkey, with the condition of observing the
principle of reciprocity, have the right to apply in writing to the competent
authorities and to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey with regard to the
requests and complaints concerning themselves or the public.
The result of the application concerning himself/herself shall be made known to the
petitioner in writing without delay.
• Right to information Everyone has the right to obtain information and appeal to the Ombudsperson.
The Institution of the Ombudsperson established under the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey examines complaints on the functioning of the administration.
The Chief Ombudsperson shall be elected by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
for a term of four years by secret ballot. In the first two ballots, a two-thirds majority
of the total number of members, and in the third ballot an absolute majority of the
total number of members shall be required. If an absolute majority cannot be
obtained in the third ballot, a fourth ballot shall be held between the two candidates
who have received the greatest number of votes in the third ballot; the candidate
who receives the greatest number of votes in the fourth ballot shall be elected.
The way of exercising these rights referred to in this article, the establishment,
duties, functioning of the Ombudsperson Institution and its proceedings after the
examination and the procedures and principles regarding the qualifications,
elections and personnel rights of the Chief Ombudsperson and ombudspersons shall
be laid down in law.

PART THREE: Fundamental Organs of the

Republic
CHAPTER ONE: Legislative Power
I. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey
A. Composition
• Structure of legislative chamber(s)

• Size of first chamber
ARTICLE 75
• First chamber selection
• Claim of universal suffrage
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be composed of six hundred deputies
elected by universal suffrage.
B. Eligibility to be a deputy
• Eligibility for cabinet

• Eligibility for head of government
ARTICLE 76
• Eligibility for head of state
• Eligibility for first chamber
Every Turk over the age of eighteen is eligible to be a deputy.
• Minimum age of head of government
• Minimum age for first chamber
Persons who have not completed at least primary education, who have been
• Terrorism deprived of legal capacity, who are in relation with the military service, who are
banned from public service, who have been sentenced to a prison term totalling one
year or more excluding involuntary offences, or to a heavy imprisonment; those who
have been convicted for dishonourable offences such as embezzlement, corruption,
bribery, theft, fraud, forgery, breach of trust, fraudulent bankruptcy; and persons
convicted of smuggling, conspiracy in official bidding or purchasing, of offences
related to the disclosure of state secrets, of involvement in acts of terrorism, or
incitement and encouragement of such activities, shall not be elected as a deputy,
even if they have been granted amnesty.
• Restrictions on the armed forces Judges and prosecutors, members of the higher judicial organs, lecturers at
institutions of higher education, members of the Council of Higher Education,
employees of public institutions and agencies who have the status of civil servants,
other public employees not regarded as labourers on account of the duties they
perform, and members of the armed forces shall not stand for election or be eligible
to be a deputy unless they resign from office.
C. Election term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
ARTICLE 77
• Scheduling of elections Elections for the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Presidency of the
• Term length for first chamber
Republic shall be held on the same day every five years.
A deputy whose term of office expires is eligible for re-election.
• Head of state selection If the simple majority is not obtained in the first round of Presidential elections, a
second round of voting is held according to procedure stated in Article 101.

D. Deferment of elections and by-elections
ARTICLE 78
If holding new elections is deemed impossible because of war, the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey may decide to defer elections for a year.
If the grounds do not disappear, the deferment may be repeated in compliance with
the procedure for deferment.
• Replacement of legislators By-elections shall be held when vacancies arise in the membership of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey. By-elections shall be held once in every election term
and cannot be held unless thirty months elapse after the general election. However,
in cases where the number of vacant seats reaches five per cent of the total number
of seats, by-elections decided to be held within three months.
• Replacement of legislators By-elections shall not be held within one year before general elections.
• Replacement of legislators Apart from the above specified situations, if all the seats of a province or electoral
district fall vacant in the Assembly, a by-election shall be held on the first Sunday
after ninety days following the vacancy. The third paragraph of Article 127 of the
Constitution shall not apply for elections held per this paragraph.
E. General administration and supervision of elections
ARTICLE 79
Elections shall be held under the general administration and supervision of the
judicial organs.
• Electoral court powers The Supreme Board of Election shall execute all the functions to ensure the fair and
orderly conduct of elections from the beginning to the end, carry out investigations
and take final decisions, during and after the elections, on all irregularities,
complaints and objections concerning the electoral matters, and receive the
electoral records of the members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and
presidential election. No appeal shall be made to any authority against the decisions
of the Supreme Board of Election.
• Electoral court powers The functions and powers of the Supreme Board of Election and other electoral
boards shall be determined by law.
• Eligibility for electoral court judges The Supreme Board of Election shall be composed of seven regular members and
• Electoral court selection
four substitutes. Six of the members shall be elected by the General Board of Court
of Cassation, and five of the members shall be elected by the General Board of
Council of State from amongst their own members, by the vote of the absolute
majority of the total number of members through secret ballot. These members shall
elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from amongst themselves, by absolute
majority and secret ballot.
Amongst the members elected to the Supreme Board of Election by the Court of
Cassation and by the Council of State, two members from each group shall be
designated by lot as substitute members. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of
the Supreme Board of Election shall not take part in this procedure.
• Referenda The general conduct and supervision of a referendum on laws amending the
Constitution and of election of the President of the Republic by people shall be
subject to the same provisions relating to the election of deputies.

F. Provisions relating to membership
1. Representing the nation
ARTICLE 80
Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall not represent their own
constituencies or constituents, but the nation as a whole.
2. Oath-taking
• Oaths to abide by constitution
ARTICLE 81
Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, on assuming office, shall take
the following oath:
“I swear upon my honour and integrity, before the great Turkish Nation, to safeguard
the existence and independence of the state, the indivisible integrity of the country
and the nation, and the absolute sovereignty of the nation; to remain loyal to the
supremacy of law, to the democratic and secular republic, and to Atatürk’s principles
and reforms; not to deviate from the ideal according to which everyone is entitled to
enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms under the notion of peace and
prosperity in society, national solidarity and justice, and loyalty to the Constitution.”
3. Activities incompatible with membership
• Outside professions of legislators ARTICLE 82

Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall not hold office in state
departments and other public corporate bodies and their subsidiaries; in
corporations and enterprises where there is direct or indirect participation of the
State or public corporate bodies; in the enterprises and corporations where the
State and other public corporate bodies take part directly or indirectly; in the
executive and supervisory boards of public benefit associations whose private
resources of revenues and privileges are provided by law; of the foundations
receiving subsidies from the state and enjoying tax exemption; of the professional
organizations having the characteristics of public institutions and trade unions; and
in the executive and supervisory boards of aforementioned enterprises and
corporations which they have a share and in their higher bodies. Nor shall they be
representatives, accept any contracted engagement of the boards stated above
directly or indirectly, serve as a representative, or perform as an arbitrator therein.
Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall not be entrusted with any
official or private duties involving proposal, recommendation, appointment, or
approval by the executive organ.
Other duties and activities incompatible with membership in the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey shall be regulated by law.

4. Parliamentary immunity
• Immunity of legislators ARTICLE 83

Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall not be liable for their votes
and statements during parliamentary proceedings, for the views they express before
the Assembly, or, unless the Assembly decides otherwise, on the proposal of the
Bureau for that sitting, for repeating or revealing these outside the Assembly.
A deputy who is alleged to have committed an offence before or after election shall
not be detained, interrogated, arrested or tried unless the Assembly decides
otherwise. This provision shall not apply in cases where a member is caught in
flagrante delicto requiring heavy penalty and in cases subject to Article 14 of the
Constitution as long as an investigation has been initiated before the election.
However, in such situations the competent authority has to notify the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey of the case immediately and directly.
The execution of a criminal sentence imposed on a member of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey either before or after his election shall be suspended until he
ceases to be a member; the statute of limitations does not apply during the term of
membership.
Investigation and prosecution of a re-elected deputy shall be subject to the
Assembly’s lifting the immunity anew.
Political party groups in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall not hold
debates or take decisions regarding parliamentary immunity.
5. Loss of membership
• Removal of individual legislators ARTICLE 84

The loss of membership of a deputy who has resigned shall be decided upon by the
Plenary of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey after the Bureau of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey attests to the validity of the resignation.
The loss of membership, through a final judicial sentence or deprivation of legal
capacity, shall take effect after the Plenary has been notified of the final court
decision on the matter.
• Legislative committees The loss of membership of a deputy who insists on holding a position or carrying out
a service incompatible with membership according to Article 82 shall be decided by
the Plenary through secret voting, upon the submission of a report drawn up by the
authorized committee setting out the factual situation.
• Attendance by legislators Loss of membership of a deputy who fails to attend Parliamentary proceedings
without excuse or leave of absence for five sessions, in a period of one month shall be
decided upon by the Plenary with a majority of the total number of members after
the Bureau of the Assembly determines the situation.

6. Application for annulment
• Constitutional court powers ARTICLE 85

If the parliamentary immunity of a deputy has been lifted or if the loss of
membership has been decided according to the first, third or fourth paragraphs of
Article 84, the deputy in question or another deputy may, within seven days from the
date of the decision of the Plenary, appeal to the Constitutional Court, for the
decision to be annulled on the grounds that it is contrary to the Constitution, law or
the Rules of Procedure. The Constitutional Court shall make the final decision on the
appeal within fifteen days.
7. Salaries and travel allowances
• Compensation of legislators ARTICLE 86

Salaries, travel allowances and retirement procedures of the members of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey shall be regulated by law. The monthly amount of the
salary shall not exceed the salary of the most senior civil servant; the travel
allowance shall not surpass half of that salary. The members of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey and retired members are affiliated with the Pension Fund of the
Turkish Republic, and the affiliation of those whose membership have expired
continue upon their request.
The salaries and allowances to be paid to the members of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey shall not necessitate the termination of pensions and similar
payments entitled by the Pension Fund of the Turkish Republic.
A maximum of three months’ salaries and travel allowances may be paid in advance.
II. Duties and powers of the Grand National Assembly of

Turkey
A. General
• Treaty ratification
ARTICLE 87
• Power to declare/approve war
The duties and powers of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey are to enact,
amend, and repeal laws; to debate and adopt the budget bills and final accounts bills;
to decide to issue currency and declare war; to approve the ratification of
international treaties, to decide with the majority of three-fifths of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey to proclaim amnesty and pardon; and to exercise the
powers and carryout the duties envisaged in the other articles of the Constitution.
B. Introduction and deliberation of bills
ARTICLE 88
• Initiation of general legislation Deputies are empowered to introduce bills.
The procedure and principles regarding the deliberation of private members' bills in
the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be regulated by the Rules of Procedure.

C. Promulgation of laws by the President of the Republic
• Approval of general legislation

• Veto override procedure
ARTICLE 89
The President of the Republic shall promulgate the laws adopted by the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey within fifteen days.
The President of the Republic shall send the laws that he deems, in whole or in part,
unsuitable for promulgation, along with the justification, back to the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey for reconsideration in the same period. In case of being partially
deemed unsuitable by the President of the Republic, the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey may discuss only those articles. Budget laws shall not be subject to this
provision.
If the Grand National Assembly of Turkey adopts the law sent back for
reconsideration with the absolute majority of total number of members without any
amendment, the law shall be promulgated by the President of the Republic; if the
Assembly makes a new amendment to the law, the President of the Republic may
send the amended law back for reconsideration.
Provisions relating to constitutional amendments are reserved.
D. Ratification of international treaties
ARTICLE 90
• Legal status of treaties
• International organizations The ratification of treaties concluded with foreign states and international
organisations on behalf of the Republic of Turkey shall be subject to adoption by the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey by a law approving the ratification.
Agreements regulating economic, commercial or technical relations, and covering a
period of no more than one year, may be put into effect through promulgation,
provided they do not entail any financial commitment by the State, and provided
they do not interfere with the status of individuals or with the property rights of
Turks abroad. In such cases, these agreements shall be brought to the knowledge of
the Grand National Assembly of Turkey within two months of their promulgation.
Implementation agreements based on an international treaty, and economic,
commercial, technical, or administrative agreements, which are concluded
depending on the authorization as stated in the law, shall not require approval of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey. However, economic, commercial agreements or
agreements relating to the rights of individuals concluded under the provision of this
paragraph shall not be put into effect unless promulgated.
Agreements resulting in amendments to Turkish laws shall be subject to the
provisions of the first paragraph.
International agreements duly put into effect have the force of law. No appeal to the
Constitutional Court shall be made with regard to these agreements, on the grounds
that they are unconstitutional. In the case of a conflict between international
agreements, duly put into effect, concerning fundamental rights and freedoms and
the laws due to differences in provisions on the same matter, the provisions of
international agreements shall prevail.

E. Authorization to issue decrees having the force of law
ARTICLE 91
(Repealed on January 21, 2017; Act No. 6771)
F. Declaration of state of war and authorization to deploy

the armed forces
• Power to declare/approve war ARTICLE 92

• International law The power to authorize the declaration of a state of war in cases deemed legitimate
by international law and except where required by international treaties to which
Turkey is a party or by the rules of international courtesy to send the Turkish Armed
Forces to foreign countries and to allow foreign armed forces to be stationed in
Turkey, is vested in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
If the country is subjected to sudden armed aggression, while the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey is adjourned or in recess, and it thus becomes imperative to
decide immediately on the use of the armed forces, the President of the Republic can
decide on the use of the Turkish Armed Forces.
III. Provisions relating to the activities of the Grand

National Assembly of Turkey
A. Convening and recess
ARTICLE 93
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall convene of its own accord on the first
day of October each year.
• Extraordinary legislative sessions The Assembly may be in recess for a maximum of three months in a legislative year;
• Length of legislative sessions
during adjournment or recess it may be summoned by the President of the Republic.
• Extraordinary legislative sessions The Speaker of the Assembly may also summon the Assembly either on his own
initiative or at the written request of one fifth of the members.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey convened during an adjournment or recess
shall not adjourn or go into recess again before having given priority consideration to
the matter requiring the summons.
B. Bureau of the Assembly
ARTICLE 94
The Bureau of the Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be
composed of the Speaker, vice-speakers, secretaries, and quaestors elected from
among members of the Assembly.
The Bureau of the Assembly shall be so composed as to ensure proportionate
representation to the number of members of each political party group in the
Assembly. Political party groups shall not nominate candidates for the Office of the

Speaker.
Two elections to the Bureau of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be held
in one legislative term. The term of office of those elected in the first round is two
years and the term of office of those elected in the second round shall continue until
the end of that legislative term.
• Leader of first chamber The candidates from among the members of the Assembly for the Office of the
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be announced, within five
days of the convening of the Assembly, to the Bureau of the Assembly. Election of
the Speaker shall be held by secret ballot.
In the first two ballots, a two-thirds majority of the total number of members, and in
the third ballot an absolute majority of the total number of members is required. If an
absolute majority cannot be obtained in the third ballot, a fourth ballot shall be held
between the two candidates who have received the highest number of votes in the
third ballot; the member who receives the greatest number of votes in the fourth
ballot shall be elected as Speaker. The election of the Speaker shall be completed
within five days after the expiry of the period for the nomination of candidates.
The quorum required for election, the number of ballots and its procedure, the
number of vice-speakers, secretaries and quaestors, shall be determined by the
Rules of Procedure.
The Speaker and vice-speakers of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey cannot
participate, within or outside the Assembly, in the activities of the political party or
party group in which they are a member; nor in parliamentary debates, except in
cases required by their functions; the Speaker and the vice-speaker who is presiding
over the session shall not vote.
C. Rules of Procedure, political party groups and security

affairs
ARTICLE 95
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall carry out its activities in accordance
with the provisions of the Rules of Procedure drawn up by itself.
The provisions of the Rules of Procedure shall be drawn up in such a way as to ensure
the participation of each political party group in all the activities of the Assembly in
proportion to its number of members. Political party groups shall be constituted only
if they have at least twenty members.
All security and administrative services of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
regarding all buildings, installations, annexes and lands shall be organised and
directed by the Office of the Speaker of the Assembly. Sufficient forces to ensure
security and other such services shall be allocated to the Office of the Speaker of the
Assembly by the relevant authorities.
D. Quorums and majority for decisions
ARTICLE 96
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall convene with at least one-third of the
total number of members for all its affairs, including elections it holds. Unless
otherwise stipulated in the Constitution, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
shall take decisions by an absolute majority of those present; however, the majority
for decision can, under no circumstances, be less than one plus a quarter of the total

• Quorum for legislative sessions
number of members.
E. Publicity and publication of debates
• Public or private sessions

• Publication of deliberations
ARTICLE 97
Debates held in the Plenary of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be
public and shall be published verbatim in the Journal of Minutes.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey may hold closed sittings in accordance with
the provisions of the Rules of Procedure; the publication of debates of such sittings
shall be subject to the decision of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Public debates in the Assembly may be freely published through all means, unless a
decision to the contrary is adopted by the Assembly upon a proposal of the Bureau.
IV. Ways of obtaining information and supervision by the

Grand National Assembly of Turkey
A. General
• Legislative oversight of the executive ARTICLE 98

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall exercise its powers of acquiring
information and supervision by means of parliamentary inquiry, general debate,
censure, parliamentary investigation, and written question.
A parliamentary inquiry is an examination conducted to acquire information on a
specific subject.
A general debate is the consideration of a specific subject relating to the community
and the activities of the State at the Plenary of the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey.
A parliamentary investigation is an investigation about the Vice-Presidents of the
Republic and the Ministers conducted according to the fifth, sixth, seventh
paragraphs of Article 106.
A written question is a request for information addressed to the Vice-Presidents of
the Republic of Ministers by deputies to be answered in writing within fifteen days at
the latest.
The form of presentation, content, and scope of the motions concerning
parliamentary inquiry, general debate and written question and the procedures of
inquiry shall be regulated by the Rules of Procedure.
B. Censure
ARTICLE 99

C. Parliamentary investigation
ARTICLE 100
CHAPTER TWO: The Executive Power
I. President of the Republic
A. Nomination and election
• Head of state selection ARTICLE 101

• Minimum age of head of state The President of the Republic shall be elected directly by the public from among
• Eligibility for head of state
Turkish citizens who are eligible to be deputies, who are over forty years of age and
who have completed higher education.
• Head of state term length The President of the Republic’s term of office shall be five years. A person may be
• Head of state term limits
elected as President of the Republic for two terms at most.
Political party groups, political parties which have recieved more than five percent of
the valid votes in sum alone or jointly in the latest parliamentary elections, or at least
a hundred thousand electorates may nominate a candidate for Presidency of the
Republic.
If a deputy is elected as the President of the Republic, his/her membership of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall cease.
• Claim of universal suffrage In presidential elections conducted by universal suffrage, the candidate who
receives the absolute majority of the valid votes cast shall be elected President of
the Republic. If such a majority cannot be obtained in the first ballot, the second
ballot shall be held on the second Sunday following this ballot. The first two top rated
candidates in first ballot shall run for the second, and the candidate who receives the
majority of the valid votes cast shall be elected President of the Republic.
If one of the candidates who is entitled to run for the second ballot is unable to
participate in the election for any reason whatsoever, the second ballot shall be
conducted by substituting the vacant candidacy in conformity with the ordering
constituted in the first ballot. where only one candidate remains for the second
ballot, this ballot shall be conducted as a referendum. Should the candidate receive
the majority of the valid votes, he/she shall be elected the President of the Republic.
If that candidate cannot receive the majority of the valid votes cast in election, only
presidential election is renewed.
If the elections cannot be completed the term of office of the incumbent President of
the Republic shall continue until the President of the Republic-elect takes the office.
Other procedures and principles concerning presidential elections shall be regulated
by law.
B. Election
ARTICLE 102

C. Oath-taking
• Oaths to abide by constitution
ARTICLE 103
On assuming office, the President of the Republic shall take the following oath
before the Grand National Assembly of Turkey:
“In my capacity as President of the Republic, I swear upon my honour and integrity
before the Great Turkish Nation and before history to safeguard the existence and
independence of the state, the indivisible integrity of the country and the nation, and
the absolute sovereignty of the nation, to abide by the Constitution, the rule of law,
democracy, the principles and reforms of Atatürk, and the principles of the secular
republic, not to deviate from the ideal according to which everyone is entitled to
enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms under conditions of national peace
and prosperity and in a spirit of national solidarity and justice, and do my utmost to
preserve and exalt the glory and honour of the Republic of Turkey and perform
without bias the functions that I have assumed.”
D. Duties and powers
• Head of state powers ARTICLE 104

• Name/structure of executive(s) The President of the Republic is the head of the State. Executive power belongs to
the President of the Republic.
In this capacity, he/she shall represent the Republic of Turkey and the unity of the
Turkish Nation; he/she shall ensure the implementation of the Constitution, and the
regular and harmonious functioning of the organs of the State.
If he/she deems it necessary, delivers the opening speech of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey on the first day of the legislative year.
He/she gives message to the Assembly about domestic and foreign policy of the
country.
He/she promulgates laws.
He/she returns laws for reconsideration to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
• Constitutionality of legislation He/she lodges an action for annulment with the Constitutional Court for the whole
or certain provisions of enacted laws, the Rules of Procedure of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey on the grounds that they are unconstitutional in form or in
substance.
• Cabinet removal He/she appoints and dismisses Vice-Presidents of the Republic and ministers.
• Cabinet selection
He/she appoints and dismisses high level State officials, and regulates the
procedures and principles relating to the appointment of these, by presidential
decrees.
• Foreign affairs representative He/she accredits representatives of the Turkish State to foreign states and receives
the representatives of foreign states appointed to the Republic of Turkey.
• International law He/she ratifies and promulgates international treaties.
• Constitution amendment procedure He/she holds a referendum, if he/she deems it necessary, on laws regarding
• Referenda
amendment to the Constitution.
He/she determines the national security policies and takes the necessary measures.

• Designation of commander in chief He/she represents the Office of Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish Armed Forces
on behalf of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
He/she decides on the use of the Turkish Armed Forces.
• Power to pardon He/she commutes or revokes the sentences imposed on certain individuals, on
grounds of chronic illness, disability and old age.
• Head of state decree power The President of the Republic may issue presidential decrees on matters relating to
the executive power. The fundamental rights, individual rights and duties included in
the first and second chapters, and the political rights and duties listed in the fourth
chapter of the second part of the Constitution, shall not be regulated by presidential
decrees. No presidential decrees shall be issued on matters to be regulated
exclusively by law embodied in the Constitution. No presidential decree shall be
issued on matters explicitly regulated by law. In the case of a conflict between
presidential decrees and the laws due to differences in provisions on the same
matter, the provisions of law shall prevail. In case the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey introduces a law on the same matter, the presidential decree shall become
null and void.
• Head of state decree power The President of the Republic may issue by-laws in order to ensure the
implementation of laws providing that they are not contrary to these laws and
regulations.
• Head of state decree power Decrees and by-laws shall come into force on the day of their publication in the
Official Gazette unless a date later than publication is determined.
The President of the Republic shall also exercise powers of election and
appointment, and perform the other duties conferred on him/her by the
Constitution and laws.
E. Criminal liability of the President of the Republic

• Head of state removal
ARTICLE 105
Parliamentary Investigation may be requested claiming that the President of the
Republic commits a crime through a motion tabled by an absolute majority of the
total number of members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The Assembly
shall debate this request within one month at the latest and may decide to open an
investigation through a three-fifths majority in secret ballot.
Where a decision to launch an investigation is made, the investigation shall be
conducted by a committee of fifteen members, chosen by lot, for each political party
in the Assembly, separately from among three times candidates nominated for each
seat reserved to party groups in proportion to their number of seats. The committee
shall submit its report on the result of the investigation to the Office of the Speaker
of the Assembly within two months. In case the investigation is not completed within
the time allotted, the committee shall be granted a further and final period of one
month.
Following its submission to the Office of the Speaker, the report shall be distributed
within ten days and debated in the Plenary within ten days after its distribution. The
Grand National Assembly of Turkey may decide to refer the case to the Supreme
Court with two-thirds majority of the total number of members through secret
ballot. The Supreme Court trial shall be concluded in three months, if the trial is not
completed within the time allotted, a further three months shall be granted for once,
and the trial shall absolutely be completed within that time.
The President of the Republic regarding whom an investigation is decided to be
launched cannot decide to hold elections.

The term of office of the President of the Republic, who is convicted by the Supreme
Court of a crime that prevents from being elected, shall cease.
The alleged offences committed by the President of the Republic during the term of
office shall be subject to the provisions of this article also after the term of office
expires.
F. Vice-presidents of the Republic, acting president of the

Republic and ministers
• Deputy executive
• Head of state replacement
ARTICLE 106
After being elected, the President of the Republic may appoint one or more
Vice-Presidents of the Republic.
In case the office of the President of the Republic falls vacant for any reason, the
election of the President of the Republic shall be held in forty five days. Until a new
one is elected, the Vice-President of the Republic shall deputise, and he/she shall
exercise the powers of the President of the Republic. If the general election is to be
held within a year or less, the election of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
shall be renewed together with the election of the President of the Republic. If the
general election is to be held in over one year, the President of the Republic newly
elected shall continue to serve until the election date of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey. For the President of the Republic who is completing that
remaining period, this time-frame shall not be counted as the term of office. Both
elections shall be held together at the date of the general elections of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey.
In the event of a temporary absence of the President of the Republic on account of
illness, travel abroad or similar circumstances, the Vice-President of the Republic
shall serve as Acting President of the Republic and exercise the powers of the
President of the Republic.
• Eligibility for cabinet Vice-Presidents of the Republic and ministers shall be appointed from among those
• Cabinet selection
• Oaths to abide by constitution eligible to be elected as deputies and dismissed by the President of the Republic.
Vice-Presidents of the Republic and ministers shall take their oaths before the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey, as written in Article 81. If members of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey are appointed as Vice-Presidents of the Republic or
ministers, their parliamentary membership shall cease.
• Cabinet removal Vice-Presidents of the Republic and ministers shall be accountable to the President
of the Republic. Parliamentary investigation alleging that they committed a
task-related crime may be requested against the Vice-Presidents of the Republic and
ministers through a motion tabled by an absolute majority of the total number of
members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The Assembly shall debate on
this request within one month at the latest and may decide to open an investigation
with a three-fifths majority in secret ballot.
• Cabinet removal Where a decision to launch an investigation is made, the investigation shall be
conducted by a committee of fifteen members, chosen by lot, for each political party
in the Assembly, separately from among three times candidates nominated for each
seat reserved to party groups in proportion to their number of seats.
• Cabinet removal The committee shall submit its report on the result of the investigation to the Office
of the Speaker within two months. In case the investigation is not completed within
the time allotted, the committee shall be granted a further and final period of one
month.
Following its submission to the Office of the Speaker, the report shall be distributed
within ten days and debated in the Plenary within ten days after its distribution. The

• Cabinet removal
Grand National Assembly of Turkey may decide to refer the case before the
Supreme Court with two-thirds majority of the total number of members through
secret ballot. The Supreme Court trial shall be concluded in three months, if the trial
is not completed within the time allotted, a further three months shall be granted for
once, and the trial shall absolutely be completed within that time.
• Cabinet removal The alleged task-related offences committed during their terms of offices shall also
be subject to the provisions of paragraphs (5), (6) and (7) after the termination of
their duties.
• Cabinet removal The term of office of the Vice-President of the Republic or minister, who is convicted
by the Supreme Court of a crime that prevents from being elected, shall cease.
During the term of office, for the alleged offences which are not task-related,
Vice-Presidents of the Republic and ministers shall enjoy parliamentary immunity.
The formation, abolition, functions, powers and organisation, and formation of
central and regional organisation of the ministries shall be regulated by presidential
decrees.
G. General Secretariat of the President of the Republic
ARTICLE 107
H. State Supervisory Council
• Advisory bodies to the head of state ARTICLE 108

The State Supervisory Council which was established under the Office of the
Presidency of the Republic, with the purpose of ensuring the lawfulness, regular and
efficient functioning and improvement of administration, conduct all administrative
investigations, inquiries, investigations and inspections of all public bodies and
organizations, all enterprises in which those public bodies and organizations share
more than half of the capital, public professional organizations, employers’
associations and labour unions at all levels, and public welfare associations and
foundations, upon the request of the President of the Republic.
Judicial organs are outside the jurisdiction of the State Supervisory Council.
The Chairperson and the members of the State Supervisory Council shall be
appointed by the President of the Republic.
The functioning of the State Supervisory Council, the term of office of its members,
and other personnel matters relating to their status shall be regulated by
presidential decree.
II. Council of Ministers
A. Formation
ARTICLE 109

B. Taking office and vote of confidence
ARTICLE 110
C. Vote of confidence while in office
ARTICLE 111
D. Functions and political responsibilities
ARTICLE 112
E. The formation of ministries, and ministers
ARTICLE 113
F. Provisional Council of Ministers during elections
ARTICLE 114
G. Regulations
ARTICLE 115
H. Renewal of elections to the Grand National Assembly of

Turkey and the President of the Republic
• Head of state removal

• Dismissal of the legislature
ARTICLE 116
The Grand National Assembly may decide to renew elections with a three-fifths
majority of the total number of members. In this case, general election of the Grand
National Assembly and presidential elections shall be held together.
In the event that the President of the Republic decides to renew the elections,
general election of the Grand National Assembly and presidential elections shall be
held together.

Where the renewal of the elections is decided by the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey during the second term of the President of the Republic, he/she may run for
the presidency once more.
The powers of the Assembly and the President of the Republic of which the renewal
of elections is decided together, shall continue until inauguration of these organs.
The terms of offices of the Assembly and the President of the Republic elected in this
manner shall also be five years.
I. National defence
1. Offices of Commander-in-Chief and Chief of the General

Staff
• Designation of commander in chief ARTICLE 117

The Office of Commander-in-Chief is inseparable from the spiritual existence of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey and is represented by the President of the
Republic.
The President of the Republic shall be responsible to the Grand National Assembly
of Turkey for national security and for the preparation of the armed forces for the
defence of the country.
• Selection of active-duty commanders The Chief of the General Staff, appointed by the President of the Republic, is the
commander of the Armed Forces, and in time of war, exercises the duties of
Commander-in-Chief on behalf of the President of the Republic.
2. National Security Council
• Advisory bodies to the head of state ARTICLE 118

The National Security Council shall be composed of Vice-Presidents of the Republic,
ministers of Justice, National Defence, Internal Affairs, and Foreign Affairs, the Chief
of the General Staff, the commanders of the Land, Naval and Air Forces under the
chairpersonship of the President of the Republic.
Depending on the particulars of the agenda, ministers and other persons concerned
may be invited to meetings of the Council and their views heard.
The National Security Council shall submit to the President of the Republic the
advisory decisions taken with regard to the formulation, determination, and
implementation of the national security policy of the State and its views on ensuring
the necessary coordination. The President of the Republic shall evaluate decisions of
the National Security Council concerning the measures that it deems necessary for
the preservation of the existence and independence of the State, the integrity and
indivisibility of the country, and the peace and security of society.
The agenda of the National Security Council shall be drawn up by the President of
the Republic taking into account the proposals of the Vice-Presidents of the Republic
and the Chief of the General Staff.
In the absence of the President of the Republic, the National Security Council shall
convene under the chairpersonship of the Vice-President of the Republic.
The organization and duties of the General Secretariat of the National Security
Council shall be regulated by presidential decree.

III. State of emergency administration
• Emergency provisions ARTICLE 119

The President of the Republic may declare state of emergency in one or more
regions or throughout the country for a period not exceeding six months in the event
of war, the emergence of a situation necessitating war, mobilization, uprising, strong
and actual attempt against homeland and Republic, widespread acts of violence of
internal or external origin threatening the indivisibility of the country and the nation,
emergence of widespread acts of violence which are aimed at the destruction of the
constitutional order or the fundamental rights and freedoms, severly destruction of
public order due to acts of violence, and emergence of natural disaster, dangerous
pandemic disease or severe economic crises.
The decision of declaration of state of emergency shall be published on the issuing
day in the Official Gazette, and submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
for approval, on the same day.
If the Grand National Assembly of Turkey is in recess, it shall be immediately
summoned. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey may, when it deems necessary,
reduce or extend the period of state of emergency, or lift it.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey may extend the period of state of
emergency for a maximum of four months each time upon the President of the
Republic ’s request. In the event of state of war, the limit of four months does not
apply.
The financial, material and labour obligations which are to be imposed on citizens in
the event of the declaration of state of emergency and the manner how fundamental
rights and freedoms shall be restricted or suspended temporarily in line with the
principles of Article 15, which provisions shall be applied, and how the procedures
shall be exercised, shall be regulated by law.
• Head of state decree power During the state of emergency, the President of the Republic, may issue presidential
decrees on the matters necessitated by the state of emergency without the
limitation set forth in the second sentence of the seventeenth paragraph of Article
104. These decrees having the force of law shall be published in the Official Gazette,
and shall be submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on the same day
for approval.
• Head of state decree power Save for the situations that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey cannot convene
due to war and force majeure; presidential decrees issued during the state of
emergency shall be debated and concluded in the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey within three months. Otherwise, the Presidential decree issued in the state
of emergency shall ex officio cease to have effect.
ARTICLE 120
ARTICLE 121
ARTICLE 122

IV. Administration
A. Fundamentals of the administration
1. Integrity of the administration and public coporate

bodies
ARTICLE 123
The administration forms a whole, with regard to its constitution and functions, and
shall be regulated by law.
The organization and functions of the administration are based on the principles of
centralization and decentralization.
Public corporate bodies shall be established only by law or by presidential decrees.
2. By-laws
ARTICLE 124
The President of the Republic, the ministries, and public corporate bodies may issue
by-laws in order to ensure the implementation of laws and presidential decrees
relating to their jurisdiction, as long as they are not contrary to these laws and
presidential decrees.
The law shall designate which by-laws are to be published in the Official Gazette.
B. Judicial review
• Ultra-vires administrative actions ARTICLE 125

Recourse to judicial review shall be available against all actions and acts of
administration. In concession, conditions and contracts concerning public services
and national or international arbitration may be suggested to settle the disputes
arising from them. Only those disputes involving an element of foreignness may be
submitted to international arbitration.
Recourse to judicial review shall be available against all decisions taken by the
Supreme Military Council regarding expulsion from the armed forces except acts
regarding promotion and retiring due to lack of tenure.
Time limit to file a lawsuit against an administrative act begins from the date of
written notification of the act.
Judicial power is limited to the review of the legality of administrative actions and
acts, and in no case may it be used as a review of expediency. No judicial ruling shall
be passed which restricts the exercise of the executive function in accordance with
the forms and principles prescribed by law, which has the quality of an
administrative action and act, or which removes discretionary powers.
A justified decision regarding the suspension of execution of an administrative act
may be issued, should its implementation result in damages which are difficult or
impossible to compensate for and, at the same time, the act would be clearly
unlawful.

The law may restrict the issuing of an order on suspension of execution of an

administrative act in cases of state of emergency, mobilization and state of war, or on
the grounds of national security, public order and public health.
The administration shall be liable to compensate for damages resulting from its
actions and acts.
C. Establishment of the administration
1. Central administration
• Municipal government
• Subsidiary unit government
ARTICLE 126
In terms of central administrative structure, Turkey is divided into provinces on the
basis of geographical situation, economic conditions, and public service
requirements; provinces are further divided into lower levels of administrative
districts.
The administration of the provinces is based on the principle of devolution of
powers.
Central administrative organizations comprising several provinces may be
established to ensure efficiency and coordination of public services. The functions
and powers of these organizations shall be regulated by law.
2. Local administrations
• Municipal government
• Subsidiary unit government
ARTICLE 127
Local administrations are public corporate bodies established to meet the common
local needs of the inhabitants of provinces, municipal districts and villages, whose
principles of constitution and decision-making organs elected by the electorate are
determined by law.
The formation, duties and powers of the local administrations shall be regulated by
law in accordance with the principle of local administration.
The elections for local administrations shall be held every five years in accordance
with the principles set forth in Article 67. Special administrative arrangements may
be introduced by law for larger urban centres.
Loss of status and objections regarding the acquisition of the status of elected
organs of local administrations shall be decided by judiciary. However, as a
provisional measure until the final court judgment, the Minister of Internal Affairs
may remove from office those organs of local administration or their members
against whom an investigation or prosecution has been initiated on grounds of
offences related to their duties.
The central administration has the power of administrative tutelage over the local
administrations in the framework of principles and procedures set forth by law with
the objective of ensuring the functioning of local services in conformity with the
principle of the integrity of the administration, securing uniform public service,
safeguarding the public interest and meeting local needs properly.

The formation of local administrative bodies into a union with the permission of the
President of the Republic for the purpose of performing specific public services; and
the functions, powers, financial and security arrangements of these unions, and their
reciprocal ties and relations with the central administration, shall be regulated by
law. These administrative bodies shall be allocated financial resources in proportion
to their functions.
D. Provisions relating to public servants
1. General principles
ARTICLE 128
The fundamental and permanent functions required by the public services that the
State, state economic enterprises and other public corporate bodies assigned to
perform in accordance with principles of general administration, shall be carried out
by public servants and other public employees.
The qualifications, appointments, duties and powers, rights and responsibilities,
salaries and allowances of public servants and other public officials, and other
matters related to their status shall be regulated by law. However, provisions on
collective agreement concerning financial and social rights are reserved.
The procedure and principles governing the training of high rank administrators shall
be specially regulated by law.
2. Duties and responsibilities, and guarantees in

disciplinary proceedings
ARTICLE 129
• Duty to obey the constitution Public servants and other public officials are obliged to carry out their duties with
loyalty to the Constitution and the laws.
Public servants, other public officials and members of public professional
organizations or their higher bodies shall not be subjected to disciplinary penalties
without being granted the right of defence.
Disciplinary decisions shall not be exempt from judicial review.
Provisions concerning the members of the armed forces, judges and prosecutors are
reserved.
• Ultra-vires administrative actions Compensation suits concerning damages arising from faults committed by public
servants and other public officials in the exercise of their duties shall be filed only
against the administration in accordance with the procedure and conditions
prescribed by law, as long as the compensation is recoursed to them.
Prosecution of public servants and other public officials for alleged offences shall be
subject, except in cases prescribed by law, to the permission of the administrative
authority designated by law.

E. Institutions of higher education and their higher bodies
1. Institutions of higher education
ARTICLE 130
• Reference to science For the purpose of training manpower to meet the needs of the nation and the
country under a system of contemporary education principles, universities
comprising several units and having scientific autonomy and public legal personality
shall be established by the State and by law, to educate at different levels based on
secondary education, to conduct research, to issue publications, to act as
consultants, and to serve the country and humanity.
Institutions of higher education may be established, under the supervision and
control of the State, by foundations in accordance with the procedures and
principles set forth in the law as long as they do not pursue profit.
The law shall provide for a balanced geographical distribution of universities
throughout the country.
• Right to academic freedom Universities, members of the teaching staff and their assistants may freely engage in
all kinds of scientific research and publication. However, this shall not include the
liberty to engage in activities against the existence and independence of the State,
and against the integrity and indivisibility of the nation and the country.
Universities and units attached to them are under the supervision and inspection of
the State and their security is ensured by the State.
University presidents shall be elected and appointed by the President of the
Republic, and faculty deans by the Council of Higher Education, in accordance with
the procedures and provisions of the law.
The administrative and supervisory organs of the universities and the teaching staff
may not for any reason whatsoever be removed from their office by authorities
other than those of the competent organs of the universities or by the Council of
Higher Education.
The budgets drawn up by universities, after being examined and approved by the
Council of Higher Education shall be submitted to the Ministry of National
Education, and shall be put into effect and supervised in conformity with the
principles applied to central government budget.
• Reference to science The establishment of institutions of higher education, their organs, their functioning
and elections, their duties, authorities and responsibilities, the procedures to be
followed by the state in the exercise of the right to supervise and inspect the
universities, the duties of the teaching staff, their titles, appointments, promotions
and retirement, the training of the teaching staff, the relations of the universities and
the teaching staff with public institutions and other organizations, the level and
duration of education, admission of students into institutions of higher education,
attendance requirements and fees, principles relating to assistance to be provided by
the State, disciplinary and penalty matters, financial affairs, personnel rights, rules to
be abided by the teaching staff, the assignment of the teaching staff in accordance
with inter-university requirements, the pursuance of training and education in
freedom and under guarantee and in accordance with the requirements of
contemporary science and technology, and the use of financial resources provided
by the State to the Council of Higher Education and the universities, shall be
regulated by law.

Institutions of higher education established by foundations shall be subject to the

provisions set forth in the Constitution for institutions of higher education
established by the State, as regards the academic activities, recruitment of teaching
staff and security, except for financial and administrative matters.
2. Superior bodies of higher education
ARTICLE 131
• Reference to science The Council of Higher Education shall be established to plan, organize, administer,
and supervise education provided by institutions of higher education, to orient
teaching activities, education and scientific research, to ensure the establishment
and development of these institutions in conformity with the objectives and
principles set forth by law, to ensure the effective use of the resources allotted to the
universities, and to plan for the training of the teaching staff.
The Council of Higher Education is composed of members appointed by the
President of the Republic from among candidates who are nominated by universities,
and in accordance with the numbers, qualifications and election procedures
prescribed by law, priority being given to those who have served successfully as
faculty members or university presidents, and of members directly appointed by the
President of the Republic.
The organization, functions, authority, responsibilities and operating principles of
the Council shall be regulated by law.
3. Institutions of higher education subject to special

provisions
ARTICLE 132
Institutions of higher education attached to the Turkish Armed Forces and to the
national police organization are subject to the provisions of their respective special
laws.
F. Radio and Television Supreme Council, institutions of

radio and television, and public affiliated news agencies
• Radio
• Telecommunications
ARTICLE 133
• Television
Radio and television stations shall be established and operated freely in conformity
with rules to be determined by law.
• Media commission The Radio and Television Supreme Council, established for the purpose of regulation
and supervision of radio and television activities, is composed of nine members. The
members are elected, on the basis of number of members allocated to each political
party group, by the Plenary of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey from among
the candidates, twice the number of which is nominated by political party groups in
proportion to their number of members. The formation, duties and powers of the
Radio and Television Supreme Council, and qualifications, election procedures and
term of office of its members shall be regulated by law.
• State operation of the media The unique radio and television institution established by the State as a public
corporate body and the news agencies which receive aid from public corporate
bodies shall be autonomous and their broadcasts shall be impartial.

G. The Atatürk High Institution of Culture, Language and

History
• Right to culture
ARTICLE 134
• Reference to science The “Atatürk High Institution of Culture, Language and History” shall be established
as a public corporate body, under the moral aegis of Atatürk, under the supervision
of and with the support of the President of the Republic, attached to the Minister to
be assigned by the President of the Republic, and composed of the Atatürk Research
Centre, the Turkish Language Institution, the Turkish History Institution and the
Atatürk Culture Centre, in order to conduct scientific research, to produce
publications and to disseminate information on the thought, principles and reforms
of Atatürk, Turkish culture, Turkish history and the Turkish language.
The financial interests bequeathed by Atatürk in his will to the Turkish Language
Institution and Turkish History Institution are reserved and shall be allocated to
them accordingly.
The establishment, organs, operating procedures and personnel matters of the
Atatürk High Institution of Culture, Language and History, and its authority over the
institutions within it, shall be regulated by law.
H. Professional organizations having the characteristics of

public institutions
ARTICLE 135
Professional organizations having the characteristics of public institutions and their
higher bodies are public corporate bodies established by law, with the objectives of
meeting the common needs of the members of a given profession, to facilitate their
professional activities, to ensure the development of the profession in keeping with
common interests, to safeguard professional discipline and ethics in order to ensure
integrity and trust in relations among its members and with the public; their organs
shall be elected by secret ballot by their members in accordance with the procedure
set forth in the law, and under judicial supervision.
Persons employed in principal and permanent positions in public institutions, or in
state economic enterprises shall not be required to become members of public
professional organizations.
These professional organizations shall not engage in activities outside the aims for
which they are established.
Political parties shall not nominate candidates in elections for the organs and higher
bodies of these professional organizations.
The rules concerning the administrative and financial supervision of these
professional organizations by the State shall be prescribed by law.
The responsible organs of professional organizations which engage in activities
beyond their objectives shall be dissolved by court decision at the request of the
authority designated by law or the public prosecutor, and new organs shall be
elected in their place.

However, where it is required for and delay constitutes a prejudice to national

security, public order, prevention of commission or continuation of a crime, or an
arrest, an authority may be vested with power by law to suspend the professional
organizations and their higher bodies from activity. The decision of this authority
shall be submitted for the approval of the judge having jurisdiction within
twenty-four hours. The judge shall announce his/her decision within forty-eight
hours; otherwise, this administrative decision shall be annulled automatically.
I. Presidency of Religious Affairs
• Reference to fraternity/solidarity ARTICLE 136

The Presidency of Religious Affairs, which is within the general administration, shall
exercise its duties prescribed in its particular law, in accordance with the principles
of secularism, removed from all political views and ideas, and aiming at national
solidarity and integrity.
J. Unlawful order
ARTICLE 137
If a person employed in any position or status in public services finds an order given
by his/her superior to be contrary to the provisions of by-laws, presidential decrees,
laws, or the Constitution, he/she shall not carry it out, and shall inform the person
giving the order of this inconsistency. However, if his/her superior insists on the
order and renews it in writing, his/her order shall be executed; in this case the person
executing the order shall not be held responsible.
An order which in itself constitutes an offence shall under no circumstances be
executed; the person who executes such an order shall not evade responsibility.
Exceptions designated by law relating to the execution of military duties and the
protection of public order or public security in urgent situations are reserved.
CHAPTER THREE: Judicial Power
I. General provisions
A. Independence of the courts
• Judicial independence ARTICLE 138

Judges shall be independent in the discharge of their duties; they shall give judgment
in accordance with the Constitution, laws, and their personal conviction conforming
with the law.
No organ, authority, office or individual may give orders or instructions to courts or
judges relating to the exercise of judicial power, send them circulars, or make
recommendations or suggestions.
No questions shall be asked, debates held, or statements made in the Legislative
Assembly relating to the exercise of judicial power concerning a case under trial.

Legislative and executive organs and the administration shall comply with court
decisions; these organs and the administration shall neither alter them in any
respect, nor delay their execution.
B. Security of tenure of judges and public prosecutors
• Supreme/ordinary court judge removal

• Mandatory retirement age for judges
ARTICLE 139
• Protection of judges' salaries
Judges and public prosecutors shall not be dismissed, or unless they request, shall
not be retired before the age prescribed by the Constitution; nor shall they be
deprived of their salaries, allowances or other rights relating to their status, even as
a result of the abolition of a court or a post.
Exceptions indicated in law relating to those convicted for an offence requiring
dismissal from the profession, those who are definitely established as unable to
perform their duties because of ill-health, or those determined as unsuitable to
remain in the profession, are reserved.
C. Judges and public prosecutors
ARTICLE 140
Judges and public prosecutors shall serve as judges and public prosecutors of civil
and administrative judiciary. These duties shall be carried out by professional judges
and public prosecutors.
Judges shall discharge their duties in accordance with the principles of the
independence of the courts and the security of the tenure of judges.
The qualifications, appointment, rights and duties, salaries and allowances of judges
and public prosecutors, their promotion, temporary or permanent change in their
posts or place of duties, the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against them and
the imposition of disciplinary penalties, the conduct of investigation concerning
them and the subsequent decision to prosecute them on account of offences
committed in connection with, or in the course of, their duties, the conviction for
offences or instances of incompetence requiring their dismissal from the profession,
their in-service training, and other matters relating to their personnel status shall be
regulated by law in accordance with the principles of the independence of the courts
and the security of tenure of judges.
• Mandatory retirement age for judges Judges and public prosecutors shall serve until they are over the age of sixty-five.
The mandatory retirement age, promotion and retirement of military judges shall be
prescribed by law.
Judges and public prosecutors shall not assume any official or private occupation
other than those prescribed by law.
Judges and public prosecutors shall be attached to the Ministry of Justice with
respect to their administrative functions.
Those judges and public prosecutors working in administrative posts of judicial
services shall be subject to the same provisions as other judges and public
prosecutors. Their categories and grades shall be determined according to the
principles applying to judges and public prosecutors, and they shall enjoy all the
rights accorded to judges and public prosecutors.

D. Publicity of hearings and the necessity of justification

for verdicts
ARTICLE 141
• Right to public trial Court hearings shall be open to the public. It may be decided to conduct all or a part
of a hearing in a closed session, but only in cases where absolutely necessitated by
public morals or public security.
• Privileges for juveniles in criminal process Special provisions regarding the trial of minors shall be laid down in the law.
• Supreme court opinions The decisions of all courts shall be written with a justification.
• Right to speedy trial It is the duty of the judiciary to conclude trials as quickly as possible and at minimum
cost.
E. Formation of courts
ARTICLE 142
The formation, duties and powers, functioning and trial procedures of the courts
shall be regulated by law.
• Establishment of military courts No military courts shall be formed other than disciplinary courts. However, in state
of war, military courts may be formed with jurisdiction to try offences committed by
military personnel related to their duties.
F. State Security Courts
ARTICLE 143
(Repealed on May 7, 2004; Act No. 5170)
G. Supervision of judicial services
ARTICLE 144
Supervision of judicial services and public prosecutors with regard to their
administrative duties shall be carried out by the Ministry of Justice through judiciary
inspectors and internal auditors who are from the profession of judge and public
prosecutor, and inquiry, inspection and investigation proceedings through judiciary
inspectors. Relating procedures and principles shall be regulated by law.
H. Military justice
ARTICLE 145

II. Higher courts
• Establishment of constitutional court A. Constitutional Court
1. Formation
• Eligibility for const court judges

• Constitutional court selection
ARTICLE 146
The Constitutional Court shall be composed of fifteen members.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall elect, by secret ballot, two members
from among three candidates to be nominated by and from among the president and
members of the Court of Accounts, for each vacant position, and one member from
among three candidates nominated by the heads of the bar associations from among
self-employed lawyers. In this election to be held in the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey, for each vacant position, two thirds majority of the total number of members
shall be required for the first ballot, and absolute majority of total number of
members shall be required for the second ballot. If an absolute majority cannot be
obtained in the second ballot, a third ballot shall be held between the two candidates
who have received the greatest number of votes in the second ballot; the member
who receives the greatest number of votes in the third ballot shall be elected.
The President of the Republic shall appoint three members from the Court of
Cassation, two members from Council of State from among three candidates to be
nominated, for each vacant position, by their respective general assemblies, from
among their presidents and members; three members, at least two of whom being
law graduates, from among three candidates to be nominated for each vacant
position by the Council of Higher Education from among members of the teaching
staff who are not members of the Council, in the fields of law, economics and political
sciences; four members from among high level executives, self-employed lawyers,
first category judges and public prosecutors or rapporteurs of the Constitutional
Court.
In the elections to be held in the respective general assemblies of the Court of
Cassation, Council of State, the Court of Accounts and the Council of Higher
Education for nominating candidates for membership of the Constitutional Court,
three persons obtaining the greatest number of votes shall be considered to be
nominated for each vacant position. In the elections to be held for the three
candidates nominated by the heads of bar associations from among self-employed
lawyers, three persons obtaining the greatest number of votes shall be considered to
be nominated.
• Min age of const court judges To qualify for appointments as members of the Constitutional Court, members of the
teaching staff shall be required to possess the title of professor or associate
professor; lawyers shall be required to have practiced as a lawyer for at least twenty
years; high level executives shall be required to have completed higher education
and to have worked for at least twenty years in public service, and first category
judges and public prosecutors with at least twenty years of work experience
including their period of candidacy, provided that they all shall be over the age of
forty five.
The Constitutional Court shall elect a president and two deputy presidents from
among its members for a term of four years by secret ballot and by an absolute
majority of the total number of its members. Those whose term of office ends may be
re-elected.
The members of the Constitutional Court shall not assume other official and private
duties, apart from their fundamental duties.

2. Term of office of the members and termination of

membership
ARTICLE 147
• Constitutional court term limits The members of the Constitutional Court shall be elected for a term of twelve years.
• Constitutional court term length
• Mandatory retirement age for judges A member shall not be re-elected. The members of the Constitutional Court shall
retire when they are over the age of sixty-five. The appointment of the members to
another office whose term of office expires prior to their mandatory age of
retirement and matters regarding their personnel status shall be laid down in law.
• Constitutional court removal Membership in the Constitutional Court shall terminate automatically if a member is
convicted of an offence requiring his/her dismissal from the judicial profession, and
by a decision of an absolute majority of the total number of members of the
Constitutional Court if it is definitely established that he/she is unable to perform
his/her duties on account of ill-health.
3. Functions and powers
• Constitutional court powers ARTICLE 148

• Emergency provisions The Constitutional Court shall examine the constitutionality, in respect of both form
• Head of state decree power
• Constitutional interpretation and substance, of laws, presidential decrees and the Rules of Procedure of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey, and decide on individual applications. Constitutional
amendments shall be examined and verified only with regard to their form. However,
presidential decrees issued during a state of emergency or in time of war shall not be
brought before the Constitutional Court alleging their unconstitutionality as to form
or substance.
• Constitutionality of legislation The verification of laws as to form shall be restricted to consideration of whether the
requisite majority was obtained in the last ballot; the verification of constitutional
amendments shall be restricted to consideration of whether the requisite majorities
were obtained for the proposal and in the ballot, and whether the prohibition on
debates under expedited procedure was observed. Verification as to form may be
requested by the President of the Republic or by one-fifth of the members of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Applications for annulment on the grounds of
defect in form shall not be made after ten days have elapsed from the date of
promulgation of the law; and it shall not be appealed by other courts to the
Constitutional Court on the grounds of defect in form.
• International human rights treaties Everyone may apply to the Constitutional Court on the grounds that one of the
fundamental rights and freedoms within the scope of the European Convention on
Human Rights which are guaranteed by the Constitution has been violated by public
authorities. In order to make an application, ordinary legal remedies must be
exhausted.
In the individual application, judicial review shall not be made on matters required to
be taken into account during the process of legal remedies.
Procedures and principles concerning the individual application shall be regulated by
law.
• Cabinet removal The Constitutional Court in its capacity as the Supreme Court shall try, for offences
• Constitutional court removal
• Head of state removal relating to their functions, the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Grand
• Supreme/ordinary court judge removal
• Structure of the courts National Assembly of Turkey, Vice-Presidents of the Republic, Ministers, presidents
• Removal of individual legislators
and members of the Constitutional Court, Court of Cassation, Council of State,
Council of Judges and Prosecutors, Court of Accounts, and Chief Public Prosecutors
and Deputy Public Prosecutors.

The Chief of General Staff, the commanders of the Land, Naval and Air Forces shall
be tried in the Supreme Court for offences regarding their duties.
• Attorney general The Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation or Deputy Chief Public
Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation shall act as prosecutor in the Supreme Court.
Application for judicial review may be made against the decisions of the Supreme
Court. Decisions taken by the General Assembly regarding the application shall be
final.
The Constitutional Court shall also perform the other duties given to it by the
Constitution.
4. Procedure of functioning and trial
• Constitutionality of legislation ARTICLE 149

The Constitutional Court consists of two sections and the General Assembly. The
sections convene under the chairpersonship of the deputy president with the
participation of four members. The General Assembly shall convene with the
participation of at least ten members under the chairpersonship of the President of
the Constitutional Court or a deputy president designated by the President. The
sections and the General Assembly shall take decisions by absolute majority.
Committees may be established to examine the admissibility of the individual
applications.
The General Assembly shall hear the cases and applications concerning political
parties, actions for annulment and objection, and trials where the Constitutional
Court acts as the Supreme Court; the sections shall take the decision on individual
applications
• Regulation of political parties Annulment of constitutional amendments, dissolution of political parties, or their
deprivation from state aid, shall be decided with a two-thirds majority of members
attending the meeting.
Applications for annulment on the grounds of defect in form shall be examined and
decided with priority by the Constitutional Court.
The formation of the Constitutional Court, trial procedures of the General Assembly
and the sections, disciplinary matters of the President, the deputy presidents, and
members shall be regulated by law; principles of functioning of the Court, formation
of the sections and committees, and the division of labour shall be set out by the
internal regulations to be drawn up by the Court.
The Constitutional Court shall examine cases without holding a hearing, except
where it acts as the Supreme Court. Nonetheless, it may be decided to hold a hearing
for individual applications. When it deems necessary, the Court may also call on
those concerned and those having knowledge relevant to the case, to hear their oral
explanations, and in lawsuits on dissolution of a political party, the Court shall hear
the defence of the chairperson of the political party or of a proxy appointed by the
chairperson, after hearing the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation.

5. Annulment action

ARTICLE 150
• Constitutionality of legislation
The President of the Republic, the groups of two political parties which have the
highest number of members in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and a
minimum of one-fifth of the total number of members of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey shall have the right to apply for annulment action directly to the
Constitutional Court, based on the assertion of the unconstitutionality, in form and
in substance, of laws, of presidential decrees, of Rules of Procedure of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey or of certain articles or provisions thereof.
6. Time limit for annulment action

ARTICLE 151
The right to apply for annulment directly to the Constitutional Court shall lapse sixty
days after publication in the Official Gazette of the contested law, presidential
decree or the Rules of Procedure.
7. Claim of unconstitutionality before other courts
• Constitutional interpretation
ARTICLE 152
If a court hearing a case finds that the law or the presidential decree to be applied is
unconstitutional, or if convinced of the seriousness of a claim of unconstitutionality
submitted by one of the parties, it shall postpone the consideration of the case until
the Constitutional Court decides on the issue.
If the trial court is not convinced of the seriousness of the claim of
unconstitutionality, such a claim, together with the court judgment, shall be decided
upon by the competent authority of appeal.
The Constitutional Court shall decide on the matter and declare its judgment within
five months of receiving the contention. If no decision is reached within this period,
the trial court shall conclude the case under legal provisions in force. However, if the
trial court receives the decision of the Constitutional Court until the judgment on
the merits of the case is final, the trial court is obliged to comply with it.
No claim of unconstitutionality shall be made with regard to the same legal provision
until ten years elapse after publication in the Official Gazette of the decision of the
Constitutional Court dismissing the application on its merits.
8. Decisions of the Constitutional Court
• Constitutionality of legislation ARTICLE 153

• Constitutional court opinions The decisions of the Constitutional Court are final. Decisions of annulment shall not
be made public without a written justification.
In the course of annulling the whole, or a provision of laws or presidential decrees,
the Constitutional Court shall not act as a lawmaker and pass judgment leading to
new implementation.

Laws, presidential decrees, or the Rules of Procedure of the Grand National

Assembly of Turkey or provisions thereof, shall cease to have effect from the date of
publication in the Official Gazette of the annulment decision. Where necessary, the
Constitutional Court may also decide on the date on which the annulment decision
shall come into effect. That duration shall not be more than one year from the date of
publication of the decision in the Official Gazette.
In the event of the postponement of the date on which an annulment decision is to
come into effect, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall debate and decide
with priority on the private members’ bill, designed to fill the legal void arising from
the annulment decision.
Annulment decisions cannot be applied retroactively.
Decisions of the Constitutional Court shall be published immediately in the Official
Gazette, and shall be binding on the legislative, executive, and judicial organs, on the
administrative authorities, and on persons and corporate bodies.
B. Court of Cassation
ARTICLE 154
• Structure of the courts The Court of Cassation is the last instance for reviewing decisions and judgments
given by civil courts that are not referred by law to other civil judicial authority. It
shall also be the first and last instance court for dealing with specific cases
prescribed by law.
• Eligibility for supreme court judges Members of the Court of Cassation shall be appointed by the Council of Judges and
• Supreme court selection
• Establishment of judicial council Prosecutors from among first category judges and public prosecutors of the civil
judiciary, or those considered members of this profession, by secret ballot and by an
absolute majority of the total number of members.
• Supreme court selection The First President, first deputy presidents and heads of departments shall be
• Supreme court term length
elected by the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation from among its own
members, for a term of four years, by secret ballot and by an absolute majority of the
total number of members; they may be re-elected at the end of their term of office.
• Attorney general The Chief Public Prosecutor and the Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of
Cassation shall be appointed by the President of the Republic for a term of four years
from among five candidates nominated for each office by the General Assembly of
the Court of Cassation from among its own members by secret ballot. They may be
re-elected at the end of their term of office.
• Attorney general The organization and the functioning of the Court of Cassation, the qualifications
and procedures of the election of its president, deputy presidents, heads of
departments, members, Chief Public Prosecutor and Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor
shall be regulated by law in accordance with the principles of the independence of
courts and the security of tenure of judges.
C. Council of State
• Establishment of administrative courts ARTICLE 155

The Council of State is the last instance for reviewing decisions and judgments given
by administrative courts and not referred by law to other administrative courts. It
shall also be the first and last instance for dealing with specific cases prescribed by
law.

The Council of State shall try administrative cases, give its opinion within two
months on the conditions and the contracts under which concessions are granted
concerning public services, settle administrative disputes, and discharge other
duties, as prescribed by law.
• Eligibility for administrative judges Three-fourths of the members of the Council of State shall be appointed by the
• Administrative court selection
Council of Judges and Prosecutors from among the first category administrative
judges and public prosecutors, or those considered to be of this profession; and the
remaining quarter by the President of the Republic from among officials meeting the
requirements designated by law.
The President, Chief Public Prosecutor, deputy presidents, and heads of
departments of the Council of State shall be elected by the General Assembly of the
Council of State from among its own members for a term of four years by secret
ballot and by an absolute majority of the total number of members. They may be
re-elected at the end of their term of office.
• Eligibility for administrative judges The organization and functioning of the Council of State, the qualifications and
procedures of election of its President, Chief Public Prosecutor, deputy presidents,
heads of departments, and members, shall be regulated by law in accordance with
the principles of specific nature of the administrative jurisdiction, and of the
independence of the courts and the security of tenure of judges.
D. High Military Court of Appeals
ARTICLE 156
E. High Military Administrative Court
ARTICLE 157
F. Court of Jurisdictional Disputes
ARTICLE 158
The Court of Jurisdictional Disputes shall be empowered to deliver final judgments
in disputes between civil and administrative courts concerning their jurisdiction and
judgments.
The organization of the Court of Jurisdictional Disputes, the qualifications and
electoral procedure of its members, and its functioning shall be regulated by law. The
office of president of this Court shall be held by a member delegated by the
Constitutional Court from among its own members.
Decisions of the Constitutional Court shall take precedence in jurisdictional disputes
between the Constitutional Court and other courts.

III. Council of Judges and Prosecutors
• Establishment of judicial council ARTICLE 159

The Council of Judges and Prosecutors shall be established and shall exercise its
functions in accordance with the principles of the independence of the courts and
the security of the tenure of judges.
The Council of Judges and Prosecutors shall be composed of thirteen members; shall
comprise two chambers.
• Legislative committees The President of the Council is the Minister of Justice. The Undersecretary to the
Ministry of Justice shall be an ex-officio member of the Council. By the President of
the Republic, three members of the Council shall be selected among civil judges and
public prosecutors, who are first category judges or prosecutors and who have not
lost the qualifications required for being a first category judge or prosecutor, and
one member among administrative judges and public prosecutors who are first
category judges or prosecutors and who have not lost the qualifications required for
being a first category judge or prosecutor; by the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey, three members shall be selected from among members of the Court of
Cassation, one member shall be selected from among members of the Council of
State and three members, the qualifications of whom are defined by law, from among
academic members in the field of law of high education institution and lawyers.
Among the members elected from academic members and lawyers, at least one shall
be an academic member and one shall be a lawyer. The applications for the
memberships to be elected by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall be made
to the Office of the Speaker of the Assembly. The Office of the Speaker conveys the
applications to the Joint Committee composed of members of the Committee on
Justice and the Committee on Constitution. The Joint Committee shall elect three
candidates for each vacancy with a two-thirds majority of total number of members.
If the procedure of electing candidates cannot be concluded in the first round, a
threefifth majority of total number of members shall be required in the second
round. If the candidates cannot be elected in this round as well, the procedure of
electing candidates shall be completed by choosing a candidate by lot, for each
membership among the two candidates who have received the highest number of
votes. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall hold a secret ballot election for
each candidate the Committee has identified. In the first round a two-thirds majority
of total number of members shall be required; in case the election cannot be
concluded in this round, in the second round a three-fifth majority of total number of
members shall be required. Where the member cannot be elected in the second
round as well, the election shall be completed by choosing a candidate by lot among
the two candidates who have received the highest number of votes.
Members shall be elected for a four year term. Members may be re-elected, at the
end of their term of office.
The election of members to the Council shall be held within thirty days before the
expiry of the term of office of the members. In case of vacancies for members
selected to the Council prior to the expiry of the term of office, new members shall
be appointed within thirty days following the vacancy.
The members of the Council, other than the Minister of Justice and the
Undersecretary to the Ministry of Justice, shall not assume any duties other than
those prescribed by law or be appointed or elected to another office by the Council
during their term of office.
The administration and the representation of the Council are carried out by the
President of the Council. The President of the Council shall not participate in the
work of the chambers. The Council shall elect the heads of chambers from among its
members and one Deputy President from among the heads of chambers. The

President may delegate some of his/her powers to the Deputy President.

• Supreme/ordinary court judge removal The Council shall make the proceedings regarding the admission of judges and public
prosecutors of civil and administrative courts into the profession, appointment,
transfer to other posts, the delegation of temporary powers, promotion, and
promotion to the first category, decision concerning those whose continuation in the
profession is found to be unsuitable, the imposition of disciplinary penalties and
removal from office; it shall take final decisions on proposals by the Ministry of
Justice concerning the abolition of a court, or changes in the territorial jurisdiction of
a court; it shall also exercise the other functions given to it by the Constitution and
laws.
• Supreme/ordinary court judge removal Supervision of judges and public prosecutors with regard to the performance of their
duties in accordance with laws and other legislations (administrative circulars, in the
case of judges); investigation into whether they have committed offences in
connection with, or in the course of their duties, whether their behaviour and
conduct are in conformity with requirement of their status and duties and if
necessary, inquiries and investigations concerning them shall be carried out by the
Council’s inspectors, upon the proposal of the related chambers and with the
permission of the President of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors. The
inquiries and investigations may also be carried out by a judge or public prosecutor
who is senior to the judge or public prosecutor to be investigated.
• Supreme/ordinary court judge removal The decisions of the Council, other than dismissal from the profession, shall not be
subject to judicial review.
A Secretariat General shall be established under the Council. The Secretary General
shall be appointed by the President of the Council from among three candidates
proposed by the Council from among first category judges and public prosecutors.
The Council is empowered to appoint, with their consent, the Council’s inspectors,
judges, and public prosecutors to temporary or permanent functions in the Council.
The Minister of Justice is empowered to appoint judges, public prosecutors, judiciary
inspectors, and internal auditors from the profession of judge and public prosecutor,
with their consent, to temporary or permanent functions in the central, affiliated, or
relevant institutions of the Ministry of Justice.
The election of the members of the Council, formation of the chambers and the
division of labour between chambers, the duties of the Council and its chambers,
quorum for meetings and decisions, operating procedures and principles, objections
to be made against the decisions and proceedings of the chambers and the
examination procedure for these objections, and the establishment and the duties of
the Secretariat General shall be laid down in law.
IV. Court of Accounts
ARTICLE 160
The Court of Accounts shall be charged with auditing, on behalf of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey, revenues, expenditures, and assets of the public
administrations financed by central government budget and social security
institutions, with taking final decisions on the accounts and acts of the responsible
officials, and with exercising the functions prescribed in laws in matters of inquiry,
auditing and judgment. Those concerned may file, only for once, a request for
reconsideration of a final decision of the Court of Accounts within fifteen days of the
date of written notification of the decision. No applications for judicial review of such
decisions shall be filed in administrative courts.
In case of conflict between the decisions of the Council of State and the Court of
Accounts, regarding taxes, similar financial obligations and duties, the decision of

Council of State shall prevail.

Auditing and final decision on the accounts and acts of local administrations shall be
conducted by the Court of Accounts.
The establishment, functioning, auditing procedures, qualifications, appointments,
duties and powers, rights and obligations and other personnel matters of the
members and guarantees of the President and the members of the Court shall be
regulated by law.
PART FOUR: Financial and Economic

Provisions
CHAPTER ONE: Financial Provisions
I. Budget
A. Budget and final accounts
• Budget bills ARTICLE 161

The expenditure of the State and of public corporations, other than state economic
enterprises, shall be determined by annual budgets.
The beginning of the fiscal year and the preparation, implementation, and control of
the central government budget and special periods and procedures for investments,
or for business and services expected to last more than one year shall be defined by
law. No provisions other than those pertaining to the budget shall be included in the
Budget Act.
• Legislative committees The President shall submit central government budget bill to the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey at least seventy-five days prior to the beginning of the fiscal
year. The budget bill shall be examined by the Committee on Budget. The budget bill
adopted by the Committee on Budget within fifty-five days shall thereafter be
debated and concluded by the Plenary before the beginning of the fiscal year.
In case the budget law cannot be put into force in time, a provisional budget shall be
adopted. Where a provisional budget cannot be adopted then the budget of the
previous year increased by the revaluation rate shall be applied.
Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall express their opinions, in
the Plenary, on public administrations’ budgets during the debates of each budget;
they shall not make proposals that entail an increase in expenditure or a decrease in
revenue.
In the Plenary, public administrations’ budgets and motions for amendments shall be
read out and voted without debate.
The appropriation granted by the central government budget shall indicate the limit
of expenditure allowed. No provision shall be included in the budget to the effect
that the limit of expenditure may be exceeded by a Presidential Decree.
In motions of amendment entailing an increase in appropriations under the budget of
the current fiscal year, and, in bills entailing financial burden in the budgets of the
current or following fiscal year, the financial resources to meet the stated

expenditure shall be indicated.

Central government final accounts bills shall be submitted to the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey by the President of the Republic within six months at the latest
after the end of the relevant fiscal year. The Court of Accounts shall submit its
statement of general conformity to the Assembly within seventy-five days of the
submission of the final accounts bill to which it is related.
The submission of the final accounts bills and the statement of general conformity to
the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall not preclude the auditing and trial of
the accounts for the relevant fiscal year that have not been concluded by the Court
of Accounts, and shall not mean that a final decision has been taken on these
accounts.
Final accounts bills shall be debated and decided in conjunction with the budget bill
of the new fiscal year.
B. Debate on the budget
ARTICLE 162
C. Principles governing budgetary amendments
ARTICLE 163
D. Final accounts
ARTICLE 164
E. Scrutiny of state economic enterprises
ARTICLE 165
The principles governing the scrutiny of the accounts of public institutions and
partnerships where more than half of the capital directly or indirectly belongs to the
State, by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, shall be regulated by law.

CHAPTER TWO: Economic Provisions
I. Planning; Economic and Social Council
• Economic plans ARTICLE 166

Planning the economic, social and cultural development, in particular the rapid,
balanced and harmonious development of industry and agriculture throughout the
country and the efficient use of national resources by taking inventory of and
evaluating them, and the establishment of the necessary organization for this
purpose are the duties of the State.
Measures to increase national savings and production, to ensure stability in prices
and balance in external payments, to promote investment and employment shall be
included in the plan; in investments, public interests and necessities shall be taken
into account and the efficient use of resources shall be proposed. Development
activities shall be realized according to this plan.
The procedure and principles governing the preparation of development plans, their
approval by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, their implementation and
revision, and the prevention of amendments disrupting the unity of the plan shall be
regulated by law.
The Economic and Social Council shall be established to provide the President of the
Republic with consultative opinions in the formulation of economic and social
policies. The establishment and functioning of the Economic and Social Council shall
be laid down in law.
II. Supervision of markets and regulation of foreign trade
ARTICLE 167
• Right to competitive marketplace The State shall take measures to ensure and promote the sound and orderly
functioning of the markets for money, credit, capital, goods and services; and shall
prevent the formation of monopolies and cartels in the markets, emerged in practice
or by agreement.
• Head of state powers In order to regulate foreign trade for the benefit of the economy of the country, the
President of the Republic may be empowered by law to introduce additional
financial impositions on imports, exports and other foreign trade transactions,
except taxes and similar impositions, or to lift them.
III. Exploration and exploitation of natural resources
• Ownership of natural resources ARTICLE 168

Natural wealth and resources shall be under the authority and at the disposal of the
State. The right to explore and exploit these belongs to the State. The State may
delegate this right to persons or corporate bodies for a certain period. Of the natural
wealth and resources, those to be explored and exploited by the state in partnership
with persons or corporate bodies, and those to be directly explored and exploited by
persons or corporate bodies shall be subject to the explicit permission of the law. The
conditions to be observed in such cases by persons and corporate bodies, the
procedure and principles governing supervision and control by the State, and the
sanctions to be applied shall be prescribed by law.

IV. Forests and the forest villagers
A. Protection and development of forests
• Protection of environment ARTICLE 169

The State shall enact the necessary legislation and take the measures required for
the protection and extension of forests. Burnt forest areas shall be reafforested;
other agricultural and stockbreeding activities shall not be allowed in such areas. All
forests shall be under the care and supervision of the State.
• Ownership of natural resources The ownership of state forests shall not be transferred. State forests shall be
managed and exploited by the State in accordance with the law. Ownership of these
forests shall not be acquired by prescription, nor shall servitude other than that in
the public interest be imposed in respect of such forests.
Acts and actions that might damage forests shall not be permitted. No political
propaganda that might lead to the destruction of forests shall be made; no amnesties
or pardons specifically for offences against forests shall be granted. Offences
committed with the intention of burning or destroying forests or reducing forest
areas shall not be included within the scope of amnesties or pardons.
The reducing of forest areas shall be prohibited, except in respect of areas whose
preservation as forests is considered scientifically and technically useless but
conversion into agricultural land has been found to be definitely advantageous, and
in respect of fields, vineyards, orchards, olive groves or similar areas which
technically and scientifically ceased to be forest before December 31, 1981 and
whose use for agricultural or stockbreeding purposes has been found advantageous,
and in respect of built-up areas in the vicinity of cities, towns or villages.
B. Protection of forest villagers
ARTICLE 170
• Protection of environment Measures shall be introduced by law to secure cooperation between the State and
the inhabitants of villages located in or near forests in the supervision and
exploitation of forests for the purpose of ensuring conservation of forests and their
integrity, and improving the living conditions of these inhabitants; the law shall also
regulate the exploitation of areas which technically and scientifically ceased to be
forests before December 31, 1981; the identification of areas whose preservation as
forest is considered scientifically and technically useless, their exclusion from forest
boundaries and their improvement by the State for the purpose of settling all or
some of the inhabitants of forest villages in them, and their allocation to these
villages.
The State shall take measures to facilitate the acquisition of equipment and other
inputs by these inhabitants.
The land owned by villagers resettled outside a forest shall immediately be
reafforested as a State forest.

V. Developing cooperativism
• Protection of consumers ARTICLE 171

The State shall take measures, in keeping with national economic interests, to ensure
the development of cooperativism, which shall be primarily aiming at increase in
production and protection of consumers.
VI. Protection of consumers, tradespeople and artisans
A. Protection of consumers
• Protection of consumers ARTICLE 172

The State shall take measures to protect and inform consumers; shall encourage
their initiatives to protect themselves.
B. Protection of tradespeople and artisans
• Reference to art ARTICLE 173

The State shall take measures to protect and support tradespeople and artisans.
PART FIVE: Miscellaneous Provisions
I. Preservation of Reform Laws
ARTICLE 174
No provision of the Constitution shall be construed or interpreted as rendering
unconstitutional the Reform Laws indicated below, which aim to raise Turkish
society above the level of contemporary civilization and to safeguard the secular
character of the Republic, and whose provisions were in force on the date of the
adoption of the Constitution by referendum:

1. Act No. 430 of March 3, 1340 (1924) on the Unification of the Educational
System,

2. Act No. 671 of November 25, 1341 (1925) on the Wearing of Hats,

3. Act No. 677 of November 30, 1341 (1925) on the Closure of Dervish
Monasteries and Tombs, the Abolition of the Office of Keeper of Tombs
and the Abolition and Prohibition of Certain Titles,


4. The principle of civil marriage according to which the marriage act shall be
concluded in the presence of the competent official, adopted with the
Turkish Civil Code No. 743 of February 17, 1926, and Article 110 of the
Code,

5. Act No. 1288 of May 20, 1928 on the Adoption of International Numerals,

6. Act No. 1353 of November 1, 1928 on the Adoption and Application of the
Turkish Alphabet,

7. Act No 2590 of November 26, 1934 on the Abolition of Titles and
Appellations such as Efendi, Bey or Pasha,

8. Act No. 2596 of December 3, 1934 on the Prohibition of the Wearing of
Certain Garments.
PART SIX: Provisional Articles
PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 1
On the duly proclamation of the adoption of the Constitution as the Constitution of
the Republic of Turkey by referendum, the Chairperson of the Council of National
Security and Head of State at the time of the referendum, shall assume the title of
President of the Republic and shall exercise the constitutional functions and powers
of the President of the Republic for a period of seven years. The oath taken as Head
of State on September 18, 1980 shall remain valid. At the end of the period of seven
years, the election for the Presidency of the Republic shall be held in accordance
with the provisions set forth in the Constitution.
The President of the Republic shall also hold the chairpersonship of the Council of
National Security formed on December 12, 1980, under Act No. 2356, until the
convening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the formation of the
Bureau following the first general elections.
If the Presidency of the Republic falls vacant for any reason before the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey convenes and assumes its functions at the end of the
first general elections, the most senior member of the National Security Council shall
act as President of the Republic and exercise all his constitutional functions and
powers until the Grand National Assembly of Turkey convenes and elects a new
President of the Republic in accordance with the Constitution.
The Council of National Security formed on December 12, 1980 under Act No. 2356
shall continue to exercise its functions under Act No. 2324 on the Constitutional
Order and Act No. 2485 on the Constituent Assembly until the convening of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the formation of the Bureau following the
first general elections held under the Political Parties Act and the Elections Act
prepared in accordance with the Constitution.
After the adoption of the Constitution, Article 3 of Act No. 2356 relating to the
procedure for winning a seat on the Council of National Security that falls vacant for

any reason shall cease to apply.

After the Grand National Assembly of Turkey has convened and assumed its
functions, the Council of National Security shall become the Presidential Council for
a period of six years, and the members of the Council of National Security shall
acquire the title of members of the Presidential Council. The oath they took on
September 18, 1980 as members of the Council of National Security shall remain
valid. Members of the Presidential Council shall enjoy the rights and immunities
conferred by the Constitution on members of the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey. The legal existence of the Presidential Council shall terminate on the expiry
of the period of six years.
The functions of the Presidential Council shall be as follows:

a. To examine laws adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and
submitted to the President of the Republic concerning: the fundamental
rights and freedoms and duties set forth in the Constitution, the principle of
secularism, the preservation of the reforms of Atatürk, national security
and public order, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation,
international treaties, the sending of armed forces to foreign countries and
the admission of foreign forces in Turkey, emergency rule, martial law and
the state of war, and other laws deemed necessary by the President of the
Republic, within the first ten days of the period of fifteen days granted to
the President of the Republic for his consideration;

b. On the request of the President of the Republic and within the period
specified by him:

To consider and give an opinion on matters relating to the renewal of
general elections, the exercise of emergency rule and the measures to be
taken during a state of emergency, the management and supervision of the
Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, the training of the youth and the
conduct of religious affairs;

c. According to the request of the President of the Republic, to consider and
investigate matters relating to internal or external security and such other
matters deemed necessary, and to submit its findings to the President of
the Republic.
On the convening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the formation of
the Bureau following the first general elections held in accordance with the
Constitution:

a. Act No. 2324 of October 27, 1980 on the Constitutional Order,

b. Act No. 2356 of December 12, 1980 on the Council of National Security,

c. Act No. 2485 of June 29, 1981 on the Constituent Assembly,
shall cease to have effect and the legal existence of the Council of National Security
and the Consultative Assembly shall terminate.

(Repealed on September 6, 1987; Act No. 3361)
On the tenth day following proclamation of the results of the first general elections
by the Supreme Board of Election, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey shall
convene of its own accord at the building of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
in Ankara at 15.00 hours. The eldest deputy shall preside this session. At this session,
the deputies shall take their oaths.
Until the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, formed in accordance with the
Constitution, adopts the Rules of Procedure, which shall govern its sessions and
proceedings, those provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly
that were in force before September 12, 1980, and that are not contrary to the
Constitution shall apply.
The present Council of Ministers shall continue in office until the convening of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the formation of the new Council of
Ministers following the first general elections.
Laws relating to the formation, duties, powers and functioning of the new organs,
institutions and agencies established under the Constitution and other laws whose
introduction or amendment is provided for in the Constitution, shall be enacted
during the period of Constituent Assembly, starting from the date of the adoption of
the Constitution; laws that cannot be dealt with during this period shall be enacted
within the year following the first session of the newly elected Grand National
Assembly of Turkey.
• Constitution amendment procedure PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 9

Within a period of six years following the formation of the Bureau of the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey, which is to convene after the first general elections,
the President of the Republic may send back to the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey any constitutional amendments. In this case, the re-submission of the
constitutional amendment in its unchanged form to the President of the Republic by
the Grand National Assembly of Turkey is only possible with a three-fourths
majority of the votes of the total number of members.
Local elections shall be held within a year of the first session of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey.

Regular and substitute members of the Constitutional Court who were in office on
the date of the adoption of the Constitution by referendum shall continue to hold
office and exercise their functions. The members previously elected by the
Constitutional Court to specific offices shall retain the status thus acquired.
No election shall be held to fill the vacant seats of the regular members of the
Constitutional Court until the number of these members falls to eleven, nor shall an
election be held to fill the vacant seats of substitute members until the total number
of regular and substitute members falls to fifteen. Until the Constitutional Court
adapts to the new system, the principles and order of precedence set forth in the
Constitution shall be observed in the elections which are to be held because the
number of regular members has fallen below eleven, or because the total number of
regular and substitute members has fallen below fifteen.
Until the number of regular members of the Constitutional Court falls to eleven, the
quorum prescribed by Act No. 44 of April 22, 1962, shall be observed in all cases and
proceedings.
Persons appointed by the Head of State as regular and substitute members of the
High Council of Judges and Prosecutors from among the members of the Court of
Cassation and the Council of State under Provisional Article 1 of Act No. 2461 of
May 13, 1981, on the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors; as Chief Public
Prosecutor and Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor in accordance with the Provisional
Article appended to Act No. 1730 on the Court of Cassation under Act No. 2483 of
June 25, 1981; and as President, Chief Public Prosecutor, deputy presidents and
heads of division of the Council of State under Provisional Article 14, paragraph 2 of
Act No. 2575 of January 6, 1982 on the Council of State shall continue to exercise
their functions until the end of the term of office for which they were elected.
The provisions of the provisional articles of Act No. 2576 of 6 January 1982
concerning the appointment of the presidents and members of administrative courts
shall also remain in force.
The elections of one regular and one substitute member to be elected to the High
Council of Judges and Prosecutors from among the members of the Court of
Cassation shall take place in twenty days following the entry into force of the
Constitution.
Until the elected members assume the office, the quorum for meetings of the
Council shall be met with the participation of substitute members.
The obligation of the unions to deposit their revenues in the state banks shall be
fulfilled within two years of the entry into force of the Constitution, at the latest.
(Repealed on September 12, 2010; Act No. 5982)

• Restrictions on voting PROVISIONAL ARTICLE 16

Persons who fail to participate in the referendum on the Constitution without valid
legal or actual reasons despite being entitled to vote and being included in the
register of electors and the polling station register compiled for the referendum,
shall neither participate nor stand for election in general elections, by-elections, local
elections or referendums for a period of five years following the referendum on the
Constitution.
In the first general elections held after the entry into force of this Act on the addition
of a provisional article to the Turkish Constitution, the last paragraph of Article 67 of
the Constitution shall not be applied to the provisions of Parliamentary Elections Act
No. 2839, dated June 10, 1983, concerning the inclusion of independent candidates
on joint ballot paper.
The current substitute members of the Constitutional Court shall acquire the status
of regular members on the date of entry into force of this Act.
Within thirty days of the date of entry into force of this Act, the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey shall elect one member each from among three candidates
nominated by the General Assembly of the Court of Accounts and the heads of bar
associations.
In order to nominate candidates for the election of the members to be held by the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey:

a. The President of the Court of Accounts shall announce the beginning of the
application process for candidacy within five days of the date of entry into
force of this Act. Candidates shall apply to the Presidency within five days
of the announcement. The General Assembly of the Court of Accounts shall
hold elections within five days of the final date of application. The three
candidates obtaining the greatest number of votes shall be nominated in
these elections in which each member of the Court of Accounts may vote.

b. The Head of the Turkish Union of Bar Associations shall announce the
beginning of the application process for candidacy within five days of the
date of entry into force of this Act. Candidates shall apply to the Turkish
Union of Bar Associations within five days of announcement. The election
shall be held at the place and time indicated in the announcement of the
Turkish Union of Bar Association within five days following the final date of
application by the heads of the Bar Associations. The three candidates
obtaining the greatest number of votes shall be nominated in these
elections in which each head of bar may vote.

c. The names of those nominated through the elections held in accordance
with subparagraphs (a) and (b) shall be notified to the Office of the Speaker
of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey by the Presidency of the Court
of Accounts and of the Turkish Union of Bar Associations on the day
following the elections.


ç. Elections shall be held at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey within ten
days of the notification made in accordance with subparagraph (c). In
elections held for each vacant position, a two- thirds majority of the total
number of members in the first ballot and the absolute majority of the total
number of members is required in the second ballot; in case the absolute
majority of the total number of members is not attained in the second
ballot, a third ballot shall be held between two candidates obtaining the
greatest number of votes in the second ballot; the candidate who obtains
the greatest number of votes in the third ballot shall be elected.
Following the vacancy of the positions allocated to the Court of Cassation and the
Council of State, the President of the Republic shall choose one member for each
vacancy, from among three candidates to be nominated for each vacant position by
the Council of Higher Education from among members of the teaching staff in the
fields of law, economics and political sciences who are not members of the Council of
Higher Education.
The current members, as well as substitute members elected from the quotas
allocated to institutions that have nominated members for the Constitutional Court
shall be taken into consideration in the final election.
The status of those who have been appointed to certain posts in the Constitutional
Court shall continue until the end of their term of office. Those who are members on
the date of entry into force of this Act shall continue in their post until the statutory
age limit.
Necessary legal arrangements on individual applications shall be completed within
two years. Individual applications shall be accepted as from the date of the entry into
force of the implementing law.
The members of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors shall be elected within
thirty days as of the date of entry into force of this Act in accordance with the
principles and procedures indicated below:

a. President of the Republic shall appoint four members, for whom there is no
impediment to becoming a judge, from among teaching staff working in the
field of law for at least fifteen years and lawyers who have completed
fifteen years of active professional service.

b. The General Assembly of the Court of Cassation shall select three regular
and two substitute members from among members of the Court. The First
President of the Court of Cassation shall announce the beginning of the
application process for candidacy within seven days of the entry into force
of this Act. The candidates shall apply to the First Presidency within seven
days of the date of the announcement. The General Assembly of the Court
of Cassation shall hold elections within fifteen days from the final date of
application. In the elections, where each member of the Court of Cassation
may vote, the candidates with the greatest number of votes are elected as
regular and substitute members respectively.


c. The General Assembly of the Council of State shall select one regular and
one substitute member from among members of the Court. The President
of the Council of State shall announce the beginning of the application
process for candidacy within seven days of the entry into force of this Act.
The candidates shall apply to the Presidency within seven days of the date
of the announcement. The General Assembly of the Council of State shall
hold elections within fifteen days from the final date of application. In the
elections, where each member of the Council of State may vote, the
candidates with the greatest number of votes are elected as regular and
substitute members respectively.

ç. The General Assembly of the Turkish Justice Academy shall select one
regular and one substitute member from among its members to the
Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors. The President of the Justice
Academy of Turkey shall announce the beginning of the application process
for candidacy within seven days of the entry into force of this Act. The
candidates shall apply to the Presidency within seven days of the date of
the announcement. The General Assembly of the Justice Academy of
Turkey shall hold elections within fifteen days from the final date of
application. In the elections, where each member may vote, the candidates
with the greatest number of votes are elected as regular and substitute
members respectively.

d. Seven regular and four substitute members shall be elected by civil judges
and public prosecutors under the direction and supervision of the Supreme
Board of Election from among civil judges and public prosecutors who are
first category judges and have not lost the qualifications for being first
category judges. Within five days of the date of entry into force of this Act,
the Supreme Board of Election shall announce the beginning of the
application process for candidacy. The candidates shall apply within three
days of the date of announcement. The Supreme Board of Election shall
examine the applications, finalize and announce the list of candidates
within two days following the expiry of the date of application. Objections
to this list may be made within the following two days. The objections shall
be examined and finalized and the definitive list of candidates shall be
announced within two days following the expiry of the objection period.
Judges and public prosecutors working in provinces or districts shall vote in
elections to be held, under the direction and supervision of the provincial
election boards, in each province and district on the second Sunday
following the date of announcement of the definitive list by the Supreme
Board of Election. The provincial election boards shall establish ballot box
committees according to the number of judges and public prosecutors that
are to vote in that province. Provincial election boards shall decide on
complaints and objections about proceedings, measures, and decisions of
the ballot box committees. Candidates shall not conduct campaigns; they
may post their résumé on an internet site allocated for this purpose within
the framework of the principles and procedures defined by the Supreme
Board of Election. The candidates obtaining the greatest number of votes
are elected as regular and substitute members respectively. The Supreme
Board of Election shall determine other matters concerning the ballot
papers. The Supreme Board of Election may have the ballot papers printed
or may have these printed through provincial election boards as it may
deem appropriate. In the elections to be held, the provisions of the Act No.
298, Basic Rules on Elections and Voting Registers, dated April 4, 1961,
that are not in conflict with this subparagraph shall apply.


e. Three regular and two substitute members shall be elected by civil judges
and public prosecutors under the direction and supervision of the Supreme
Board of Election from among civil judges and public prosecutors who are
first category judges and have not lost the qualifications for being first
category judges. In the elections, in provinces where there are regional
administrative courts, held under the direction and supervision of the
provincial election boards, judges and public prosecutors working in these
regional administrative courts and in courts subject to authority of those
courts shall vote. The provisions of subparagraph (d) shall apply to these
elections as well.
The regular members of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors elected in
accordance with subparagraphs (a), (ç), (d) and (e) of the first paragraph, shall begin
to hold office on the working day following the date of entry into force of this Act.
Regular and substitute members of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors
elected from the Court of Cassation and Council of State, incumbent on date of entry
into force of this Act, shall continue their duties until the end of their term of office.
The members elected in accordance with subparagraph (b) of the first paragraph
shall replace, in sequence, the members elected from Court of Cassation whose term
of office have expired, and the members elected in accordance with subparagraph (c)
of the first paragraph shall replace, in sequence, the members elected from Council
of State whose terms of office have expired.
The term of office of the members elected according to subparagraph (b) and (c) of
the first paragraph and who took office in accordance with the third paragraph ends
when the term of office of those elected in accordance with subparagraph (a), (ç), (d)
and (e) of the first paragraph expires.
Regular members elected to the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors shall have
the same financial, social and pension rights determined for the Head of Chamber of
the Court of Cassation in the relevant legislation, until the necessary arrangements
are made in related laws.
Furthermore, regular members of the Council, except for the President, shall receive
additional compensation on a monthly basis in the amount to be calculated by
multiplying the index of 30000 by the coefficient applied to salaries of civil servants.
Until arrangements are made in the relevant laws, the High Council of Judges and
Prosecutors:

a. Shall operate in the form of a board in accordance with legal provisions in
force as long as they are not contrary to the provisions of the Constitution,

b. Shall convene under the presidency of the Minister of Justice within one
week following the date of holding office of the regular members in
accordance with the second paragraph and shall elect a temporary deputy
chairperson,

c. Shall convene with at least fifteen members and take decisions by the
absolute majority of the total number of members,

ç. The secretariat functions shall be conducted by the Ministry of Justice.
Until inspectors of the Council and judiciary inspectors are appointed, the existing
judiciary inspectors shall carry out their duties under the title of inspector of the
Council and judiciary inspector.

The provisions of this Article shall be applied until the necessary arrangements are
made in the relevant laws.
A. 27th Legislative Term parliamentary elections to the Grand National Assembly
of Turkey and Presidential election shall both take place on 3/11/2019. The
members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and President of the
Republic continue to hold office until the date of the elections. In the event that
the Assembly decides to call an election, 27th Legislative Term Parliamentary
elections and Presidential election take place on the same day.
B. Within six months at the latest from the date of promulgation of this Law, the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey organizes other legal regulations and
amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly as required by the
amendments brought by this Law. Amendments which are stated to be made by
the Presidential decree, will be brought by the President of the Republic within
six months at the latest from the date of his/her taking office.
C. According to the amendment made to Article 159 of the Constitution, election
of members to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors shall be held within thirty
days at the latest and they shall take office on the working day following the
fortieth day after the date of entry into force of this Law. The applications for
the memberships shall be made to the Office of the Speaker of the Assembly
within five days as of the entry into force of this Article. The Office of the
Speaker conveys the applications to the Joint Committee composed of members
of the Committee on Justice and Committee on Constitution. The Committee
shall elect three candidates for each vacancy with a two-thirds majority of total
number of members within ten days. If the procedure of electing candidates
cannot be concluded in the first round and two-thirds majority cannot be
obtained, second and third round elections are held; in these rounds, the
candidate acquiring the three-fifths majority of the total number of votes is
elected. If the candidates cannot be elected in this round as well, the procedure
of electing candidates shall be completed by choosing a candidate by lots among
twice the number of candidates who have received the highest number of votes
in the third round. Plenary of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey concludes
the elections within fifteen days in accordance with the same procedures and
principles. The present members of High Council of Judges and Prosecutors
shall hold office until the date on which the new members take office and take
actions pursuant to the provisions in the Law in force. New members shall
exercise their duties in accordance with the provisions of the existing Law which
are not unconstitutional until an amendment is brought to the relevant Law.
Among those whose memberships were expired and were not re-elected to the
Council of Judges and Prosecutors, the ones selected among judges and
prosecutors of civil judiciary shall be appointed as members of Court of
Cassation upon their requests and the ones selected among judges and
prosecutors of administrative judiciary shall be appointed as members of
Council of State by the Council of Judges and Prosecutors; the ones elected
among academicians and lawyers shall be appointed as members of Council of
State by the President of the Republic. During such elections and appointments,
whether there is enough vacancy in cadres is not considered. Instead, enough
vacancies are added to the cadres in Court of Cassation and Council of State for
the number of elected and appointed members.
D. Memberships of those who are elected as members of Constitutional Court
from the Military Court of Cassation and High Military Administrative Court,
exist until their memberships are expired for any reason.

E. As of the date of entry into force of this Law, Military Court of Cassation, High
Military Administrative Court and military courts are abrogated.
Within four months as of the entry into force of this Law; in accordance with
their choices and acquired rights, Heads, Chief Prosecutors, Second Heads and
members as well as other military judges (excluding reserve officers) from the
category of military judges in Military Court of Cassation and High Military
Administrative Court;

a. may be appointed as judges or prosecutors of civil or administrative
judiciary by the Council of Judges and Prosecutors.

b. Judges and prosecutors may be appointed by National Defence Ministry to
cadres of legal services at the Ministry or Presidency of General Staff
within their existing classes. Regarding wage, allowance, additional
allowance, judicial allowance, additional payment, financial, social rights
and aid and other rights, these judges and prosecutors will be considered
the same as civil or administrative judges and prosecutors. Regarding rights
and obligations other than those above, legislation provisions which are in
force at the date of promulgation of this law continue to apply. The
procedures and principles regarding the compensation to be paid to those
who are entitled to pension and will retire from their office on their own
accord before the retirement on the age margin, shall be regulated by law.
Of the files examined in the annulled military judicial authorities, those at the
stage of examination of legal remedy shall be submitted to Court of Cassation or
Council of State where relevant, other files shall be submitted to the civil or
administrative judicial authorities with jurisdiction and competence, where
relevant, within four months.
F. Decree Laws, regulations, guidelines issued by the Prime Ministry or Council of
Ministers as well as other regulatory acts which are in force on the date of entry
into force of this Law shall be valid unless annulled. Articles 152 and 153
continue to apply as regards Decree Laws in force.
G. Powers granted to the Prime Ministry and Council of Ministers through the laws
or other legislations shall be exercised by the President of the Republic until an
amendment is made to the relevant legislation.
H. Last paragraph of Article 67 of the Constitution shall not apply regarding the
first mutual Parliamentary and Presidential elections which will be held
following the date of entry into force of this law.
PART SEVEN: Final Provisions
I. Amending the Constitution, participation in elections and

referenda
• Constitution amendment procedure

• Referenda
ARTICLE 175
Amendment to the Constitution shall be proposed in writing by at least one-third of
the total number of members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Bills to
amend the Constitution shall be debated twice in the Plenary. The adoption of a bill
for an amendment shall require a three-fifths majority of the total number of
members of the Assembly by secret ballot.

The consideration and adoption of bills for the amendments to the Constitution shall
be subject to the provisions governing the consideration and adoption of laws, with
the exception of the conditions set forth in this Article.
The President of the Republic may send back the laws on the amendments to the
Constitution to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for reconsideration. If the
Assembly readopts, by a two-thirds majority of the total number of members, the
law sent back by the President of the Republic without any amendment, the
President of the Republic may submit the law to referendum.
If a law on the amendment to the Constitution is adopted by a three-fifths or less
than two-thirds majority of the total number of members of the Assembly and is not
sent back by the President of the Republic to the Assembly for reconsideration, it
shall be published in the Official Gazette and be submitted to referendum.
A law on the Constitutional amendment adopted by a two- thirds majority of the
total number of members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey directly or upon
the sending back of the law by the President of the Republic or its articles deemed
necessary may be submitted to a referendum by the President of the Republic. A law
on the amendment to the Constitution or the related articles that are not submitted
to referendum shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Entry into force of the laws on the amendment to the Constitution submitted to
referendum shall require the affirmative vote of more than half of the valid votes
cast.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey, in adopting the law on the Constitutional
amendment shall also decide on which provisions shall be submitted to referendum
together and which shall be submitted individually, in case the law is submitted to
referendum.
Every measure including fines shall be taken by law to secure participation in
referenda, general elections, by-elections and local elections.
II. Preamble and headings of articles
ARTICLE 176
The preamble, which states the basic views and principles the Constitution is based
on, shall form an integral part of the Constitution.
The headings of articles merely indicate the subject matter of the articles, their
order, and the connections between them. These headings shall not be regarded as a
part of the text of the Constitution.
III. Entry into force of the Constitution
ARTICLE 177
On its adoption by referendum and its publication in the Official Gazette, this
Constitution shall become the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and shall come
into force in its entirety, subject to the following exceptions and the provisions
relating to entry into force of these exceptions:

a. The provisions of Part Two Chapter II relating to personal liberty and
security, the press and publication, and the right and freedom of assembly.


The provisions of Chapter III relating to labour, collective labour

agreements, the right to strike, and lockout.

These provisions shall come into force when the relevant laws are
promulgated, or when the existing laws are amended, and in any case, at the
latest, when the Grand National Assembly of Turkey assumes its functions.
However, until their entry into force, existing laws and the decrees and
decisions of the Council of National Security shall apply.

b. The provisions of Part Two relating to political parties and the right to
engage in political activities, shall come into force on the promulgation of
the new Political Parties Act, which is to be prepared in accordance with
these provisions.

The provisions on right to vote and to be elected shall come into force on
the promulgation of the Elections Act also to be prepared in accordance
with these provisions.

c. The provisions of Part Three, relating to legislative power: These provisions
shall come into force on the proclamation of the results of the first general
elections. However, the provisions relating to the functions and powers of
the Grand National Assembly of Turkey which take place in this section
shall be exercised by the Council of National Security until the Grand
National Assembly of Turkey assumes its functions; the provisions of Act
No. 2485 of June 29, 1981 on the Constituent Assembly being reserved.

d. The provisions of Part Three relating to the functions and powers of the
President of the Republic and to the State Supervisory Council under the
heading “President of the Republic”; to regulations, National Defence,
procedures governing emergency rule under the heading “Council of
Ministers”; to all other provisions under the heading “Administration”,
except local administration, and except the Atatürk High Institution of
Culture, Language and History; and all the provisions relating to the
judiciary, except the State Security Courts, shall come into force on
publication in the Official Gazette of the adoption by referendum of the
Constitution. The provisions concerning the President of the Republic and
the Council of Ministers which have not gone into effect shall come into
force when the Grand National Assembly of Turkey assumes its functions;
the provisions relating to local administrations and to the State Security
Courts shall come into force on the promulgation of the relevant laws.

e. If new legislation, or amendments to existing legislation are required in
connection with the constitutional provisions which are to come into force
on the proclamation of the adoption by referendum of the Constitution or
in connection with existing or future institutions, organizations and
agencies, the procedure to be followed shall be subject to those provisions
of existing laws which are not unconstitutional, or to the provisions of the
Constitution, in accordance with Article 11 of the Constitution.

f. The provision of second paragraph of Article 164 regulating the procedure
for the consideration of final accounts bill shall come into force in 1984.

PROVISIONAL ARTICLES NOT INCLUDED IN

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ACT NO 2709
DATED OCTOBER 18 1982
1. Provision of the Act No. 4121 dated July 23, 1995
Article 16
If this Act is put to referendum;
Article 1,
Articles 2, 3, 13 and 15,
Article 4,
Article 5,
Articles 6, 7 and 14,
Article 8 and first paragraph of Article 17,
Articles 9 and 10,
Article 11,
Article 12,
Shall be voted individually.
Referendum is held during the first parliamentary elections.
2. Provision of the Act No. 4446 dated August 13, 1999
Article 4
This Act shall enter into force on the date of publication and if it is put to
referendum, 1st Article ; 2nd and 3rd Articles are voted individually
3. Provisional Article of Act No. 4709 dated October 3,

2001
PROVISIONAL ARTICLE
A. The last paragraph added to the Article 67 of the Constitution by Article 24 of
this Act shall not be implemented at the first general election to be held after
this Act goes into effect.
B. The amendments made by Article 28 of this Act to Article 87 of the Constitution
shall not apply to those who perpetrate the acts described in Article 14 of the
Constitution before this Act goes into effect.
Article 35

referendum, it shall be voted in its entirety.
4. Provisional Article of Act No. 4777 dated December 27,

2002
The last paragraph of Article 67 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey shall
not be implemented in the first by-elections to be held during the 22nd term of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Article 3
referendum, it shall be voted in its entirety.
5. Provisions of the Act No.6771, dated January 21, 2017
ARTICLE 18
a. Amendments to Articles 8, 15, 17, 19, 73, 82, 87, 88, 89, 91, 93, 96, 98, 99, 100,
104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, repeal of second and third
paragraphs of Article 114, amendments to 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121,
122, 123, 124, 125 and last paragraph of Article 127; amendments to Articles
131, 134, 137 and to first paragraph and sixth paragraph of Article 148
regarding “members of Council of Ministers”, amendments to Articles 150, 151,
152, 153, second paragraph of Article 155, Articles 161, 162, 163, 164, 166 and
167 and paragraphs (F) and (G) of provisional article 21 shall come into force at
the end of simultaneous elections to Grand National Assembly of Turkey and
President of the Republic on the date when President of the Republic holds
office,
b. Amendments to Articles 75, 77, 101 and 102 shall come into force at the
beginning of the calender for first simultaneous elections to Grand National
Assembly of Turkey and Presidential elections,
c. Other amended provisions and repeal of “If the President of the Republic - elect
is a member of a party, his/her relationship with that party shall be severed” in
the last paragraph of Article 101 shall come into force at the date of their
promulgation, and they shall be voted in their entirety after submission to
referendum.

Topic index
Administrative court selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Advisory bodies to the head of state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47, 49
Approval of general legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Attendance by legislators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Attorney general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 64
Binding effect of const rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Budget bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Cabinet removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 46, 47, 61

Cabinet selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 46
Campaign financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 32
Civil service recruitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Claim of universal suffrage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 34, 43
Compensation of legislators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Compulsory education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Conditions for revoking citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Constitution amendment procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 75, 82
Constitutional court opinions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Constitutional court powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 32, 38, 45, 46, 47, 61, 63
Constitutional court removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Constitutional court selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Constitutional court term length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Constitutional court term limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Constitutional interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61, 63
Constitutionality of legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 61, 62, 63
Deputy executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Designation of commander in chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, 49
Dismissal of the legislature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Duty to obey the constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 53
Duty to pay taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Duty to serve in the military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Duty to work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Earnings disclosure requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Economic plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Electoral court powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Electoral court selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Eligibility for administrative judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Eligibility for cabinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 46
Eligibility for const court judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Eligibility for electoral court judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Eligibility for first chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Eligibility for head of government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Eligibility for head of state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 43
Eligibility for supreme court judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Emergency provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 50, 61
Equality regardless of creed or belief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Equality regardless of gender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Equality regardless of language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Equality regardless of political party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Equality regardless of race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Equality regardless of religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Equality regardless of skin color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Establishment of administrative courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Establishment of constitutional court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Establishment of judicial council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 66
Establishment of military courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Extradition procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Extraordinary legislative sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
First chamber selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Foreign affairs representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Free education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Freedom of assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Freedom of association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Freedom of expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Freedom of movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Freedom of opinion/thought/conscience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Freedom of press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 18
Freedom of religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
General guarantee of equality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Head of state decree power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, 50, 61, 63

Head of state powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 44, 70
Head of state removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, 48, 61

Head of state replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Head of state selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 43
Head of state term length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Head of state term limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Human dignity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Immunity of legislators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Initiation of general legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
International human rights treaties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
International law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 23, 38, 39, 40, 44
International organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 39
Judicial independence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 57
Leader of first chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Legal status of treaties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Legislative committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 66, 68
Legislative oversight of the executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Length of legislative sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Limits on employment of children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Mandatory retirement age for judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 61

Media commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Mentions of social class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Min age of const court judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Minimum age for first chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Minimum age of head of government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Minimum age of head of state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Motives for writing constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Municipal government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Name/structure of executive(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
National anthem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
National capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
National flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Oaths to abide by constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36, 44, 46

Official or national languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 23
Ombudsman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Outside professions of legislators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Ownership of natural resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 70, 71
Political theorists/figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 10, 23, 28, 36, 44, 56

Power to declare/approve war . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38, 40
Power to deport citizens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Power to pardon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Presumption of innocence in trials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Principle of no punishment without law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Privileges for juveniles in criminal process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Prohibition of capital punishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Prohibition of corporal punishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Prohibition of cruel treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Prohibition of slavery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Prohibition of torture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Protection from ex post facto laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Protection from expropriation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Protection from false imprisonment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Protection from self-incrimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Protection from unjustified restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Protection of consumers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Protection of environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 71
Protection of judges' salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Provision for matrimonial equality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Public or private sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Publication of deliberations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Quorum for legislative sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 55
Reference to art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 29, 72
Reference to fraternity/solidarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 36, 44, 57
Reference to science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 17, 23, 28, 54, 55, 56
Referenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 35, 44, 82
Regulation of evidence collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 16, 21
Regulation of political parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 62
Removal of individual legislators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 61
Replacement of legislators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Requirements for birthright citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Requirements for naturalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Restrictions on entry or exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 16

Restrictions on political parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 31

Restrictions on rights of groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Restrictions on the armed forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 30, 31, 34
Restrictions on voting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 77
Right of petition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Right to academic freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 54
Right to choose occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Right to competitive marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Right to culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 56
Right to equal pay for work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Right to establish a business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Right to fair trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Right to form political parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Right to found a family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Right to health care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Right to information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Right to join trade unions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Right to life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Right to own property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Right to pre-trial release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Right to privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 16
Right to protect one's reputation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Right to public trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Right to reasonable standard of living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 27
Right to rest and leisure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Right to shelter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Right to speedy trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 59
Right to strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Right to transfer property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Right to work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Rights of children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Rights of debtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Scheduling of elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Secret ballot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Selection of active-duty commanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Separation of church and state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Size of first chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
State operation of the media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 55
State support for children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 28, 29
State support for the disabled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
State support for the elderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Structure of legislative chamber(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Structure of the courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61, 64

Subsidiary unit government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Supreme court opinions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Supreme court selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Supreme court term length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Supreme/ordinary court judge removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 61, 67
Telecommunications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 55
Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 55
Term length for first chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Terrorism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Treaty ratification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38, 39, 44
Type of government envisioned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ultra-vires administrative actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 51, 53

Unamendable provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Veto override procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

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Turkey's Constitution of 1982

PART TWO: Fundamental Rights and Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 2

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 3

B. Persons requiring special protection in the field of social security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

PART THREE: Fundamental Organs of the Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 4

E. Authorization to issue decrees having the force of law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 5

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 6

PART FOUR: Financial and Economic Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

PART FIVE: Miscellaneous Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

PART SIX: Provisional Articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

PROVISIONAL ARTICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 7

5. Provisions of the Act No.6771, dated January 21, 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 8

• Motives for writing constitution Preamble

PART ONE: General Principles

I. Form of the State

• Type of government envisioned ARTICLE 1

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 9

II. Characteristics of the Republic

III. Integrity, official language, flag, national anthem, and

IV. Irrevocable provisions

• Unamendable provisions ARTICLE 4

V. Fundamental aims and duties of the State

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 10

VII. Legislative power

VIII. Executive power and function

IX. Judicial power

• Judicial independence ARTICLE 9

X. Equality before the law

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 11

XI. Supremacy and binding force of the Constitution

• Binding effect of const rights ARTICLE 11

PART TWO: Fundamental Rights and Duties

CHAPTER ONE: General Provisions

I. Nature of fundamental rights and freedoms

II. Restriction of fundamental rights and freedoms

III. Prohibition of abuse of fundamental rights and

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 12

The sanctions to be applied against those who perpetrate activities contrary to these

IV. Suspension of the exercise of fundamental rights and

• Emergency provisions ARTICLE 15

CHAPTER TWO: Rights and Duties of the Individual

I. Personal inviolability, corporeal and spiritual existence

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 13

II. Prohibition of forced labour

• Prohibition of slavery ARTICLE 18

III. Personal liberty and security

• Protection from unjustified restraint ARTICLE 19

Turkey 1982 (rev. 2017) Page 14

proceedings or the execution of the court sentence.

IV. Privacy and protection of private life

A. Privacy of private life

• Right to privacy ARTICLE 20

B. Inviolability of the domicile

• Regulation of evidence collection