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TURKEY
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M) (Grand National Assembly of Turkey)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Oversight and Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M) / Grand National Assembly of Turkey
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Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1910 - 1980
1984 -
LEADERSHIP
President Binali Yildirim (M) 
Notes Elected on 12 July 2018.
Secretary General Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoglu (M) 
Notes Appointed on 29 July 2016.
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 600 / 596
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 104 (17.45%)
Mode of designation directly elected 600
Term 5 years
Last renewal dates 24 June 2018
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Grand National Assembly of Turkey
T.B.M.M. - ANKARA
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (90 312) 420 51 51
Fax (90 312) 420 67 56
E-mail gensek@tbmm.gov.tr
Website
http://www.tbmm.gov.tr

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M) / Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 1 January 1900
Last updated: October 2006
Mode of designation directly elected 600
Constituencies 79 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the country's provinces.
Voting system Proportional: Party-list proportional representation system using the d'Hondt method, with restricted options and a double barrier (at the local and national level). Accordingly, a candidate from a political party can only be elected if the party (a) is fully organized in at least half of the provinces and one- third of the districts within these provinces; (b) has nominated two candidates for each parliamentary seat in at least half of the provinces; (c) has obtained at least 10% of the valid votes cast nationwide; and (d) has received, in the constituency in question, valid votes at least equal to the applicable simple electoral quotient.
Subject to certain conditions and exceptions, vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections.
Voting is compulsory, abstention being punishable by a fine.
Voter requirements - age: 18 years
- Turkish citizenship
- disqualifications: criminal conviction, insanity, allegiance to a foreign State
CANDIDATES
Eligibility Qualified electors
- age: 25 years
- Turkish citizenship
- completion of compulsory military service (for men)
- ineligibility: bankruptcy, conviction of certain crimes listed in the Constitution, imprisonment for at least one year
Incompatibilities - judges
- prosecutors
- members of high courts
- university professors
- members of the Higher Educational Council
- certain public officials
- civil servants or public employees
- members of the armed forces
Candidacy requirements - nomination by parties or independent candidatures
- support of a given number of electors (which varies according to the population of the constituency)
- non-reimbursable monetary deposit equivalent to US$ 30,000

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M) / Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 24 June 2018
Timing and scope of renewal Elections were held for all the seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Text is being prepared.
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 124 June 2018
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
59'367'469
51'197'959 (86.24%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Justice and Development Party (AKP)
Republican People's Party (CHP)
Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)
Nationalist Action Party (MHP)
Iyi Parti
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Justice and Development Party (AKP) 295
Republican People's Party (CHP) 146
Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) 67
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) 49
Iyi Parti 43
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
496

104

17.33%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex:
There were 104 women out of the full 600 members after the 2018 elections.
Four male members resigned on 10 July to take up ministerial posts. These seats will remain vacant until the end of the current legislature.
As at 17 August 2018, there were 104 women out of 596 members.

Sources:
BBC Monitoring
Grand National Assembly of Turkey (28.06.2018, 15.08.2018)

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M) / Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
Term - duration: two years for the first Speaker. The term of the second Speaker continues until the end of the given legislative term
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death or a decision of the Constitutional Court
Appointment - elected by all Members of the TNGA
- the election is held at the start of the session
- after Members' mandates have been validated and they have been sworn in
Eligibility - any Member who is formally a candidate may be elected
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- two-thirds majority required for the two first rounds; absolute majority for the third round and simple majority for the fourth round
Procedures / results - the eldest Member presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the eldest Member and Members of the Presidential Board supervise the voting
- the eldest Member announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
STATUS
Status - ranks second in the hierarchy of the State
- acts as Head of State in the absence of the latter
- represents the Assembly with the authorities
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, one of the Vice-Presidents designed by the President can assume his/her role and functions
Board - the Presidential Board is regulated by the Rules of Procedure
- consists of the President, four Vice-Presidents, three administrative members and seven other members. Their term is identical to that of the President
- meets at the initiative of the President of Parliament
Material facilities - allowance
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- additional staff
- advisors
- bodyguards
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
- may appoint committees and their Chairmen
Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly based on precedents
Special powers - plays a specific role in supervising foreign policy or defence matters
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - proposes bills or amendments by leaving his/her chair

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Parliament name (generic / translated) Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M) / Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Structure of parliament Unicameral
NATURE
Nature of the mandate · Free representation (Art. 80 of the Constitution of 07.11.1982, as amended up to and including 17.05.1987)
Start of the mandate · When the election results are published. Procedure.
Validation of mandates · Validation by the Supreme Electoral Council (Art. 79 (2) of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 79 (2) of the Constitution)
End of the mandate · When the mandates of newly elected MPs start (for early dissolution, see Art. 77 (2) and (3) of the Constitution)
Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Art. 84 of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 84 of the Constitution): loss of membership shall be decided by an absolute majority of the total number of Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Turkish Grand National Assembly
Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter:
- Resignation from one party in order to join another party (art. 84 (1) and (2) of the Constitution)
- Dissolution of a political party (Art. 84 (3) of the Constitution)
- Loss of mandate for incompatibilities (art. 82 and 84 (1) of the Constitution)
- Loss of mandate by judicial decision (art. 84 (1) of the Constitution)
- Loss of mandate for not attending sittings of Parliament (art. 84 (1) of the Constitution; see Participation in the work of Parliament)
- General procedure (Art. 84 (1) and 85 of the Constitution)
STATUS OF MEMBERS
Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The members of the Board
3. The other MPs
Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport
· Basic salary + additional allowance (Art. 86 of the Constitution): $ 3,000 per month
· No exemption from tax, except for travel allowances
· Special pension scheme for MPs who have served for at least two years
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat
(b) Advisers
(c) Official housing
(d) Official car for Chairmen of committees, members of the Bureau and Chairmen of the International Groups
(e) 50 % discount for postal services, discount for telephone services
(f) 50 % discount for travel and transport services
Obligation to declare personal assets Yes
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 83 (1) of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament. Exception.
· Derogations: offence of Parliament (Art. )
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins. It does not offer, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 83 (2) to (5) of the Constitution).
· It applies to criminal and civil proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: when a Member is caught in the act of committing a crime punishable by a heavy penalty, and in cases subject to Art. 14 of the Constitution if an investigation has been initiated before the election, the Assembly does not have to waive parliamentary immunity. However, the competent authority shall immediately and directly notify the Assembly.
· Parliamentary inviolability does prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate and also covers judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 83 (2) of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the Turkish Grand National Assembly
- Procedure (Art. 83 (2) to (5), Art. 85 of the Constitution). In this case, MPs must be heard. They do have means of appeal.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned can be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament .

EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE
Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs.
· It is provided by the General Secretariat of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: loss of mandate (Art. 84 (1) of the Constitution)
· Body competent to judge such cases/to apply the penalties: the Turkish Grand National Assembly
Discipline · Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Order to leave the sitting
- Order to present apologies
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult
- Absence at plenary sittings of Parliament (Art. 84 (1) of the Constitution; see Participation in the work of Parliament)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to apply penalties: the Presidency of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
· Procedure:
- Order to leave the sitting
- Order to present apologies
- Absence at plenary sittings of Parliament (Art. 84 (1) of the Constitution; see Participation in the work of Parliament - penalties)
Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there is one relevant provision (Art. 84 (1) of the Constitution
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct: loss of mandate (Art. 84 (1) of the Constitution)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the Turkish Grand National Assembly
· Procedure (Art. 84 (1) of the Constitution). In this case, MPs have means of recourse.
Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are some legal provisions in this field (Art. 68 (5), and 69 (2) and (8) of the Constitution, Law of Political Parties; independence of political parties).

This page was last updated on 17 September 2018
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