Grand National Assembly of Turkey
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The Grand National Assembly (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi in Turkish) is the unicameral parliament of Turkey which carries out legislative functions. Election of its 550 members, who serve five-year terms, is by D'Hondt method, a party-list proportional representation system. To participate in the distribution of seats, a party must obtain at least 10% of the votes cast at the national level as well as a percentage of votes in the contested district.
History
History of Turkish parlementary practice extends before establishment of National parlement.Parlementary Practice
Turkish people had two parlementary life (practice) during the Ottoman Empire. The First Constitutional Era was a very short lived period, with having twice elections. After the first elections the criticisms and strong attacks on the government because of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878 by the representatives of the nation, assembly called to relection on 28 June 1877. The second assembly was again dispersed by the sultan on 14 February 1878.Second Constitutional Era begins on 23 July 1908. The constitution that was written for the first parlement included control of the sultan on public removed during the 1909, 1912, 1914 and 1916, session named as "declaration of freedom". Most of the modern parlementary rights was not granted in the first constitution, such as right of the Sultan to exile citizens abroad; with a claim of harmful activities, was removed; control on freedom of the press was eliminated and a ban on censorship was made; the liberties to hold meetings and to form organizations, establish political parties was recognized for the citizens; the government was held responsible to the assembly, not to the sultan. and many other changes.
Establishment of National Parliament
After the World War I, Ottoman Empire was shared. The political existence of the Turkish nation was completely eliminated under these plans, except for a small region. Turkish voice rose from/within the Anatolian peninsula through establishment of Turkish national movement which the political developments during this period that had lasted for years and also determine the character of the Turkish nation. During the Turkish war of independece Mustafa Kemal put forth that there would be only one way for the liberation of the Turkish people aftermath of WWI; it is through independent Turkish State based on national sovereignty.
Passage to National Constitution
Mustafa Kemal published his famous 19 March 1920 announcement. In this speech "an Assembly would be gathered in Ankara that would possess extraordinary powers, how the members who would participate in the assembly would be elected and the need to undertake elections at the latest within fifteen days". He also added that the members of the dispersed Chamber of Deputies could also participate in the assembly in Ankara, to increase the representational power of the parlement. The Turkish Grand National Assembly, established on national sovereignty, held its first opening session 23 April 1920.TBMM Practice
Parlement has a continous existence except during 1960, 1981 coups#redirect . From 23 April 1920 to 2004 there are 56 parlements#redirectCurrent Composition
(as of 30 March 2006)| Party | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Justice and Development Party Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) | 360 | |
| Republican People's Party Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) | 155 | |
| Motherland Party Anavatan Partisi (ANAP) | 22 | |
| True Path Party Doğruyol Partisi (DYP) | 4 | |
| Social Democratic People's Party Sosyaldemokrat Halk Partisi (SHP) | 4 | |
| Rise of the People Party Halkın Yükselişi Partisi (HYP) | 1 | |
| Independents Bağımsız | 4 | |
| Vacant Seats Boş | 1 | |
Please note that the distrubution of seats has changed since the latest 2002 elections.
Latest election
For the latest and previous elections, check the Elections in Turkey.See also
External link
- [The official site of the Grand National Assembly], including some [pages in English]
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