Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey is the national legislature of Turkey.
Description
The assembly is composed of 600 deputies elected in 87 electoral districts. Within each district, the delegation is elected by party list proportional representation. A party much achieve at least 7% of the national vote to qualify for representation. Independent candidates can also run without needing to meet a threshold.
The assembly is led by a speaker elected from the deputies. The speaker does not vote.
History
The assembly began as the provisional government convened in Ankara. To legitimize the Turkish War of Independence, Kemal Atatürk drafted a short constitution and had it ratified by the assembly.
The assembly formally declared a Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923. The next year, they ratified the new Constitution of 1924. It provided for a powerful presidency elected by the assembly. It also guaranteed the right to vote for anyone at least 18 years old. Amendments to the constitution in the 1930s extended this to women as well.
A coup was launched on May 27, 1960 and handed power to a National Unity Committee. Law professors from Istanbul and Ankara Universities were summoned to draft the Constitution of 1961, which introduced an upper house. Although a majority of senators were to be elected, 15 were appointed by the junta.
Another coupe was launched on 12 September, 1980. The Constitution of 1982, ratified through a referendum held in November 1982, re-established the unicameral assembly and introduced a requirement that parties win 10% of the national vote to qualify for representation.
The electoral threshold was amended to 7% by referendum in 2022.