*(This document is uptodated by The Directorate of Laws and Resolutions)

THE FIRST CONSTITUTION
THE FIRST PARLIAMENT
THE TRANSITION TO NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY
THE ERZURUM CONGRESS
THE SIVAS CONGRESS
THE NATIONAL PACT
FOUNDING OF THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WAR AND PEACE
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1921
PROCLAMATION OF THE REPUBLIC
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1924
THE TRANSITION TO A MULTI-PARTY PERIOD
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1961
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1982
The General Principles of the Constitution
    THE UNCHANGEABLE BASIC PROVISIONS
    THE DUTIES OF THE STATE
    THE USE OF SOVEREIGNTY
    EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW
The Turkish Grand National Assembly* and its Working order
    ORGANIZATION RIGHT TO VOTE AND BE ELECTED
    LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY
    THE FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE TGNA
    CONVENTION AND ADJOURNMENT
    THE BUREAU OF THE ASSEMBLY
    POLITICAL PARTY GROUPS
    CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
    COMMITTEES
    GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    ENACTING LAWS
    CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION
    THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY'S SUPERVISORY FUNCTION
    FOREIGN RELATIONS
    ADMINISTRATIVE AND SERVICE UNITS
    ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP
CULTURE, ART AND PUBLICATION BOARD
THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING
    HISTORY
    THE FIRST BUILDING
    THE SECOND BUILDING
THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT BUILDING
    MAIN BUILDING
    THE OFFICES OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THE OTHER SERVICE BUILDINGS

THE FIRST CONSTITUTION
The first written constitution in Turkish history was adopted on 23 December 1876. This constitution, which carried the name of Fundamental Law, was not the result of a movement based on the will of the people, but was realized by means of the "Young Ottomans", the name given to the intellectuals who made a rather strong influence upon the sultan.
According to the 1876 Constitution, unconditional, unrestricted sovereignty belongs to the Ottoman Family. The sultan's person was "sacred". The legislative and executive powers definitely belonged to the sultan. The judicial power could be considered to be independent, but the right to give "amnesty" was definitely belonging to the sultan. All the basic rights were recognized for the citizens excluding the freedom to gather, form political parties and organizations. However, as it was possible to limit these rights by legal means and because there was no gauge on this subject, there was no legal guarantee for basic rights and freedoms. Also, the life, goods, honor and immunity of the homes of the citizens was guaranteed "within the law". Still, the sultan, as the result of a police investigation, could exile people abroad with the justification that they harmed the state. Thus, the judicial guarantee was also harmed to the greatest extent.
Despite all the deficiencies in the 1876 Constitution, it can be considered a very significant advance due to the fact that it was the first written legal document of the Ottoman State which did not have a tradition of democracy and because it commenced the "Constitutional" government.

THE FIRST PARLIAMENT
The first Turkish parliament, under the name of "General Assembly", started activities on 20 March 1877 as a bicameral assembly. After elections in two steps, the "Chamber of Deputies" or as it is sometimes expressed, the "Parliament", was composed of 115 members, 69 who were Moslem and 46 who were non-Moslem. The "Senate" was composed of 26 members who were directly appointed by the Sultan.

On 23 April 1877, a short period after the General Assembly started to work, Russia opened war against the Ottoman State. During the war, because of the criticisms and strong attacks on the government by the representatives of the nation, the Assembly of Deputies was dispersed by the sultan on 28 June 1877. On 13 December 1877, following the results of the elections held, the second assembly of national representatives in Turkish history was convened. However, as a result of an unfavorable development in the Russian war, this new Assembly was once again dispersed by the sultan on 14 February 1878.

Abdülhamit II, the sultan at the time, governed the country from 1878 to 1908 without convening the Assembly. Around the beginning of 1908, due to gradually increasing foreign developments and extremely violent opposition of the intellectuals, he was forced to summon the General Assembly to a meeting on 23 July 1908.
In this way, the period of the Second Constitutional Monarchy was opened. At the same time, when the Constitution was once again put into practice in this period, it was also mentioned in Turkish political life as the "declaration of freedom". The constitution was changed eight times in 1909, 1912, 1914 and 1916. By this means, the structure of the 1876 Constitution experienced significant changes many times.
As a result of the changes, the right of the Sultan to exile citizens abroad, with a claim of harmful activities, was abrogated. Freedom of the press was expanded and a ban on censorship was made. The liberties to hold meetings and to form organizations was recognized for the citizens. From now on they would also be able to establish political parties. Furthermore, the government was held responsible to the Assembly. The provision of the Assembly being dispersed whenever the sultan wanted it became bound by firm restrictions. The institution of interpellation was established. Definite limits were brought to the sultan's legislative authority. The right to directly propose a draft bill of a law was recognized directly for members of the Assembly. It was accepted that the Assembly chooses the Assembly Speaker without the interference of the sultan.
The democratic parliamentary system brought by these constitutional changes made in 1909 did not last for long due to domestic and foreign events. In an environment of a worn out political struggle, and adding as well the bitter days of the Tripoli War in 1911 and the Balkan Wars that started in October 1912, with the changes made in the Constitution in 1914 and 1916, the sultan's power to dissolve the Assembly was increased step by step. Furthermore, the single party dictatorship of the "Committee of Union and Progress" party, that was in the position of the strongest party, formed one of the most important reasons obstructing the course for democratic development.
One year after the agreements made in the fall of 1913 that ended the Balkan Wars, the Ottoman State was in a predicament of participating in the First World War. In the year the war ended, Mehmet VI (Vahdettin) ascended the throne on 3 July 1918, as the last sultan of the Ottoman State. The First World War concluded with defeat. After the Mudros Armistice, which was signed on 30 October 1918, Sultan Mehmet VI dispersed the Parliament on 21 December 1918. In spite of all the reactions of the public, by treading on the distinct provision of the Constitution, the Parliament was only reconvened on 12 January 1920.

THE TRANSITION TO NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY
The Entente Powers who were the victors of the First World War had shared the Ottoman country on paper. According to these plans of sharing, the political existence of the Turkish nation was completely eliminated and except for a small region, the homeland on which she had lived for a thousand years was being confiscated.

Based on the provisions of the Mudros Armistice which was signed on 30 October 1918, some locations in the Turkish homeland started to be occupied as of 1 November 1918. Various separatist organizations entered into preparations for revolt while the Turkish Army was being dissolved.
Right after this, towards the end of 1918 some of the patriots in Anatolia and Thrace started to establish resistance organizations under the name of "Defense of Rights". Although some intellectuals thought about the means for liberation, it was not easy to unite the forces and to open a struggle that would create a national and a general awakening. Disorganization, lack of means and a general pessimism was observed almost everywhere in the country due to different opinions.
A voice rose from/within this darkness, in harmony with the political developments that had lasted for years and the historical character of the Turkish nation. Mustafa Kemal Pasha put forth that there would not be any other means of liberation in this situation other than the founding of a new, independent Turkish State based on national sovereignty.
On 15 May 1919, one day after the Greeks occupied İzmir, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who was appointed the 9th Army Inspector, departed from Istanbul to Anatolia together with some of the friends he had obtained for his military headquarters.
The process of transition in Turkish history from personal sovereignty to national sovereignty was also started with the arrival of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) in Samsun on 19 May 1919.
The preparations made at Samsun and later at Havza as well ignited the first lights of liberation. Notices were distributed which made known that the national movement had started, such as, "...the liberation of our history and our national independence will only be feasible with the defense of the nation as a single body..." Everywhere instructions were given to military and civilian offices for the organization of protest demonstrations.

The first preparatory activities for reaching this objective, that lasted ten days, were concluded on 21-22 June 1919 with the famous "Amasya Circular" which could be considered as the departure plan for national sovereignty. In this short, but meaningful document, it is being stated in an explicit language, "the independence of the nation will be saved once more by the determination and decisiveness of the people".
The basic points of the Amasya Circular are as follows:
The independence of the nation and the integrity of the

1. The Istanbul Government is not performing the requirements for the responsibilities they have undertaken. This situation is showing our country as though it virtually ceased to exist.
2. The independence of the nation will be saved once more by the determination and decisiveness of the people.
3. The existence of a national delegation that is distant from all kinds of constraints and controls is mandatory to start acting according to the conditions and situation of the country and to make its rights heard in a loud voice by the world.
4. It has been decided to gather a national congress in Sivas that is the most secure location in Anatolia from all aspects.
5. For this it is necessary to send immediately three representatives who have gained the trust of the country from every subdivision of each province so that they can arrive as quickly aspossible.
6. Just in case, this matter should be kept in the form of a national secret and the representatives, where necessary, should make their trips without making themselves known.
7. In the name of the Eastern provinces, a congress will gather at Erzurum on 23 July. If the representatives of the other provinces can come to Sivas at this date, then the members of the Erzurum Congress will leave to attend the Sivas General Congress.

THE ERZURUM CONGRESS
The Erzurum Congress convened on 23 July 1919. Finally, all the patriots firmly gathered together around Atatürk.
At the Erzurum Congress, it was decided on the one hand that with cooperation it would be attempted to struggle with the enemy of the people in the Eastern provinces that are an inseparable part of the homeland and on the other hand as well, as a national wish, the need was stressed to take the required preventive measures by gathering the Parliament in İstanbul.
The local congress movement started in Erzurum continued in the West in the Marmara and Aegean regions which were in a state of despair under the Greek threats. Congresses were gathered in Balıkesir on 26 July 1919, in Nazilli on 6 August and in Alaşehir on 16 August. As a result of these congresses, the patriotic militia forces were established under the name of the "National Forces".

THE SIVAS CONGRESS

On 4 September 1919 the Sivas Congress gathered, which was the basis for the founding of the new Turkish State based on the principle of national sovereignty.
At the Congress the representatives of the people reached a mutual decision on the subject of the "homeland being an indivisible whole". All the local resistance organizations in the country united under the name of the "Anatolian and Rumelian Defense of Rights Association". Naturally, Mustafa Kemal Pasha was elected to the chairmanship of this organization. The "Committee of Representatives", that was formed as the result of the Congress, gained an attribute which reflected the wishes of the people. However, the spiritual and emotional burden of the Istanbul Government was still continuing.
Because of this, the Sivas Congress did not display the "founding" attribute which Mustafa Kemal Pasha desired and it was decided to inform the sultan and to gather the Parliament immediately for the liberation of the homeland.
However, this decision was also a significant step. The second stage was also completed in the transition to national sovereignty and the struggle for independence.

THE NATIONAL PACT
The results of the Sivas Congress were met with great enthusiasm throughout the country and the thought gradually gained strength that the national movement was dominant everywhere. Atatürk came to Ankara on 27 December 1919. The central administrative location for the War of Independence and for the new national State that would be founded had also become definite.
The final Ottoman Parliament gathered on 12 January 1920 in compliance with the decision of the Sivas Congress. However, the patriots in the Parliament, in spite of all their efforts, could not do away with the atmosphere and the habits of the system based on the sovereignty of the sultan. In this situation, the final hopes connected to the Parliament were also destroyed. But still, an important decision of a constitutional nature could be made. This decision was the "National Pact" dated 28 January 1920.
Every Parliament member, who was a supporter of the national forces, expended great efforts for this oath to be accomplished on behalf of the nation and finally the acceptance of this decision was realized.

The National Pact is in summary as follows :
The places where the citizens live in units composed of religion, race and origin cannot be broken away from the country in any manner within the drawn boundaries of the Armistice Agreement signed at the end of the World War.
The Straits can be opened on the condition that Istanbul, the center of the Ottoman Sultanate and the Caliphate, is found to be secure.
It is necessary to hold a referendum in Kars, Ardahan and Batum which were wished to be held outside of the Armistice boundaries and in Western Thrace that was severed from us previously.
Also a referendum should be held in the locations in the Ottoman State where Arabs are in the majority.
No agreement will be accepted that will limit our political and economic independence.
If these conditions are not accepted, then it is impossible to make peace.

In response to this decision, the Entente Powers forced the Istanbul Government to begin to act against the national forces. Istanbul was officially occupied on 16 March 1920. The Chamber of Deputies was raided. The supporters of the Anatolian movement and a number of intellectuals were arrested. The Official Departments were seized. The Ottoman state was de facto terminated on 16 March. The Parliament, which gathered two days later, was left no choice but to stop performing their activities for a while. It was dispersed by the sultan on 11 April 1920. The last Ottoman Chamber of Deputies had become a thing of the past. The national and legal basis of the principle of the "indivisibility of the Turkish homeland and the people" that is found in the current Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, is the spirit of the "National Pact" which is still alive.

FOUNDING OF THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Three days after the occupation of Istanbul, Atatürk published his famous 19 March 1920 announcement. It was established in definite and resolute expressions in the announcement that, "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".
Furthermore, the members of the dispersed Chamber of Deputies could also participate in the Assembly in Ankara. The Turkish Grand National Assembly, established on national sovereignty, held its first opening session with the participation of enthusiastic people on 23 April 1920.

Foundations of the Turkish Republic were laid down in this historic building. The first Parliament House witnessed many debates and national resolutions as the conducting center of the National Liberation War. This house exhibits now memories of the early years as the Museum of the Liberation War.
It was as though there was no suitable building where the Assembly would be able to gather in the circumstances of that day in Ankara. Finally, a single storied building, that was built as the Committee for Union and Progress Club in the Second Constitutional Monarchy period, was found to be acceptable.
When the preparations were completed, Atatürk, with his second announcement published on 21 April, disclosed that the Assembly would convene on 23 April and how the opening ceremony would be held.
Everyone gathered around the Assembly Building in Ankara at an early hour on Friday morning, 23 April 1920. The people were full of excitement at taking their own fate under control. After the noonday prayer at the Haci Bayram Mosque, a magnificent ceremony was held at the entrance to the Assembly building which filled their eyes with tears. The 115 members of parliament who were able to come to Ankara convened in the Assembly hall at 1:45 p.m.
According to the traditions of the parliament, the eldest member who was the Sinop Member of Parliament, Şerif Bey (1845), climbed up to the Chairmanship podium and opened the first meeting of the assembly by making the speech given below:
Estimable people who are present here,
It is known by all of us that Istanbul has been occupied temporarily by foreign powers and that the independence of the center of government and the office of the caliphate and all its foundations have been eliminated.
To submit to this situation means to accept the proposed foreign slavery of our nation.
However, our nation which is definitely determined to live in complete independence and that has lived freely and independently since time immemorial, has definitely and to the last degree refused to acknowledge the situation of slavery and by starting immediately to gather their representatives, has produced our Supreme Assembly.

In the capacity of the eldest member of this Supreme Assembly and with God's assistance and by directly taking on the burden of the responsibility of destiny for complete internal and external independence of our nation, I am opening the Grand National Assembly, by proclaiming to the entire world that we have started to govern ourselves.
In this opening speech, the name of the new Turkish parliament based on national sovereignty was determined as the "Grand National Assembly". This name was accepted by everyone. Later, with its form taken in all of Atatürk's speeches and for the first time in writing in the Council of Ministers decision of 8 February 1921, the name gained permanence as the "Turkish Grand National Assembly" (TGNA).

The TGNA elected Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk) to the presidency in its second meeting held on 24 April 1920. Mustafa Kemal Pasha continued the presidency of the TGNA, which had been founded with his own initiative, until 29 October 1923, the day when he was elected as President of the Republic.
Two days after its opening, the Assembly, which would not only have legislative power, but also executive power, started its preparatory activities for the legal and political structure. These arrangements showed that the TGNA had adopted the principle of unity of powers.

A law was promulgated on 2 May 1920 concerning the selection of the Council of Ministers. The "Assembly Government" composed of 11 Ministers held its first meeting on 5 May under the presidency of the President, Mustafa Kemal Pasha.

WAR AND PEACE
The first international agreement made by the TGNA was the Gümrü Peace Agreement signed with the Republic of Armenia on 3 December 1920. Thus, the Eastern front was closed. The new Turkish State and the principles of the National Pact were recognized in the Moscow Agreement signed with Russia on 16 March 1921. As a result of the First Inonii Victory between 6-11 January 1921, the Second Inönü Victory between 23-31 March 1921 and the Sakarya Victories on 13 September 1921, the French withdrew from the war with the Ankara Agreement signed on 20 October 1921. At the end of the same year, the Italians entered into cooperation with the TGNA government. In 1922, the TGNA had good relations with all the countries, excluding Greece and the United Kingdom.

The Armies of the TGNA won the Great Victory on 26 August 1922. İzmir was liberated on 9 September 1922. On 18 September 1922 no foreign military power remained in Anatolia. In response to these successes, on 11 October 1922, the new Turkish State signed the Mudanya Armistice with the Entente Powers, including the United Kingdom as well. Eastern Thrace was liberated. The allied Powers decided to hold peace talks at Lausanne on 27 October 1922. The Lausanne Peace Agreement was signed on 24 July 1923 as the result of discussions that lasted for a long period of time and it was ratified by the TGNA on 24 August 1923. The new Turkish State had succeeded in gaining military, political and economic freedom.

THE CONSTITUTION OF 1921
The first discussions on the Constitution made by the TGNA started on 19 November 1920 and were accepted with a vote taken on 20 January 1921. In this way, the first Constitution was adopted based on the principle of national sovereignty.
The Constitution of 1921 was a rather short text composed of 23 articles. The first nine articles enumerated the basic principles on which the State was based.
The principles were expressed in the most definite and open manner that unconditional, unrestricted sovereignty belongs to the nation, that the legislative and executive powers were gathered in the TGNA which is the only and real representative of the nation, and the principles of unity of powers and a state based on the people.
However, significant deficiencies of the Constitution of 1921 were the lack of a head of State, the fact that the rights and freedoms of the citizens were not established, and the lack of provisions related to the judiciary.

PROCLAMATION OF THE REPUBLIC
The principle of national sovereignty brought with the Constitution of 1921 and the will of the Sultan created a contradiction. The office of the sultanate remained in a void. The sultanate was abolished with a decision made by the TGNA on 1 November 1922. The sultanate was abrogated and personal sovereignty legally became a thing of the past. The natural result of this decision would be the founding of the Republic regime.

On 13 October 1923 a decision was approved to make Ankara the capital city.
On 29 October 1923, the motion of Atatürk and his colleagues to change some articles of the Constitution was accepted in the Grand National Assembly with applause and a unanimous vote. In the first article of the Constitution was placed the provision "The form of government of the Turkish State is a Republic". The evening of the same day, Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk) was elected the first President of the Republic of Turkey.
With the abolishment of the sultanate and the proclamation of the Republic, the "Caliphate", which was continuing its existence within the system, also reached a situation where it was unnecessary and nonfunctional. The draft bill of the law given by Sheik Saffet Effendi, the Urfa Member of Parliament and his colleagues on 3 March 1924, was accepted in the General Assembly and the Caliphate was abolished and the duties of the caliph also became a thing of the past.

THE CONSTITUTION OF 1924
The TGNA's first constitution of 1921 was only able to remain in force for three years. It had remained behind the developments and there were significant deficiencies and it was inadequate. The preparations as a whole were undertaken for a new constitution. The republic period constitution was accepted in the General Assembly with a great majority vote on 20 April 1924. The new constitution was based on the principle of cooperation within a republican regime. It was composed of 105 articles.
The Constitution of 1924 played an important role in the development of the Turkish political life. It was open to the establishment of political parties and consequently to democracy. The classic rights and freedoms were included.
Some other basic principles were brought to the 1924 Constitution with the changes made in 1928, 1934 and 1937. The change of 10 April 1928 gave a secular character to the State. With the change of 5 December 1934, the complete right to vote and be elected was recognized for women. The change of 5 February 1937 was determining the attributes of "republicanism, nationalism, populism, statism, secularism and reformism".
The Constitution of 1924, with its deficiencies and changes, was the text with the longest life-span in Turkish Constitutional history. It remained in force for 36 years, complete and uninterrupted.

THE TRANSITION TO A MULTI-PARTY PERIOD
Previous to the proclamation of the Republic, the first political party of the new Turkish State was officially established on 23 October 1923 uner the name of the "People's Party" (later it took the name of the Republican People's Party). Mustafa Kemal Atatiirk was also elected as its Chairman. What a pity, the experiments at establishing political parties were not successful up until 1945. The tendency for a transition to a multi-party life gained strength after the conclusion of the Second World War. The first political party of this period was the "National Development Party" founded on 18 July 1945. Later, the "Democrat Party" was established on 7 January 1946. The first election in the history of the Republic of Turkey in which more than one party participated was held on 21 July 1946. Along with this election, a multi-party life was adopted in a short period of time, up until 1950, 25 more political parties were established in the country. As a result of the elections of 14 May 1950, the Democrat Party won 397 of the 487 seats for members of parliament and came to power in place of the Republican People's Party which had remained in power uninterrupted for 24 years. The Democrat Party government terminated with a military coup d'etat undertaken on 27 May 1960.

THE CONSTITUTION OF 1961
The military power, which seized the administration of the country with the 27 May revolution, formed a "Constituent Assembly" to make a new constitution. The new constitution, that was prepared within a year, was submitted to a referendum on 9 July 1961. The new constitution was accepted with a total of 61.5 percent "yes" votes in a balloting in which 81 percent of the voters participated.
In this way, for the first time in Turkish history, a constituent assembly prepared a constitution and this constitution was accepted with a referendum.
The Constitution of 1961 was a long and detailed text. It brought significant innovations. It contained a provision that national sovereignty "would be used by means of authoritative organs" and so the principle of a separation of powers.
The legislative and supervision power would be carried out by the Assembly; along with the executive departing from the assembly, the executive was formed as a separate organ by the President and the Council of Ministers; and the judiciary power would be carried out by independent courts.
Another one of the significant changes was the establishment of a "bicameral assembly" structure, composed of the "National Assembly" and the "Republic Senate". Furthermore, to determine whether or not the laws were contrary to the Constitution, a "Constitutional Court" was established and emphasis was placed on judiciary supervision.
The basic rights and freedoms were established in a detailed manner, which had not been observed in any Turkish constitution up until that time. Limits were also put on the limitations of basic rights and freedoms. In addition, the constitution gave the responsibility for many social obligations to the State.
The Constitution of 1961, together with the changes made in 1971, remained in force until the second military coup d'etat undertaken in 1980.

THE CONSTITUTION OF 1982
The mechanisms established with long and detailed provisions in the Constitution of 1961 did not operate well. A harmonious working environment was not obtained among institutions because sovereignty was divided among various organs. Political and social instability paved the way to crises; as a result, the country was confronted with a second military coup d'etat on 12 September 1980. The Constitution was suspended and the political parties were closed. Political bans were brought to a large number of the politicians.
The military power seized the government and just as in 1960, a "Constituent assembly" was formed for a new constitution. The new constitution was prepared within two years and was submitted to a referendum on 7 November 1982. The rate of participation in the referendum was 91.27 percent. As a result, the Constitution of 1982 was accepted with 91.37 percent of the valid "yes" votes.
The biggest innovation brought with the Constitution of 1982 was the unicameral Assembly system, that is, a return to the Republic tradition. The executive was somewhat more strengthened. New and more severe measures were brought on the subject of limiting freedoms. New statutes were given to autonomous organizations. Excluding these, a large portion of the Constitution of 1982 resembles the Constitution of 1961.
After the Constitution of 1982 was adopted, the first election for members of parliament was held on 6 November 1983 with the participation of the newly established Nationalist Democracy Party, the Populist Party and the Motherland Party, and without the political parties, which had previously been closed. The democratic process started once again.
The General Elections for Members of Parliament held on 20 October 1991, was realized with a large number of freely established political parties and with all the politicians, whose rights to engage in politics had been taken away previously, succeeding in getting their freedoms once again. Parliamentary democracy succeeded in obtaining a working order with all its requirements.

The General Principles of the Constitution

THE UNCHANGEABLE BASIC PROVISIONS
According to the fourth article of the Constitution, the provisions in the first, second and third articles related to the form of State, the attributes of the Republic, the indivisibility of the State, the official language, the flag, the national anthem and the capital city are unchangeable and it cannot be proposed that they be changed.
These basic provisions which are definitely guaranteed in the Constitution are listed as follows:

Article 1. The Turkish State is a Republic.
Article 2. The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law; bearing in mind the concepts 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.
Article 3. The Turkish State, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity. Its language is Turkish.
Its flag, the form of which is prescribed by the relevant law, is composed of a white crescent and star on a red background. Its national anthem is the "Independence March". Its capital is Ankara.

THE DUTIES OF THE STATE
According to the Constitution, the State is charged with the duties "to protect the wholeness and independence of the Turkish nation, the indivisibility of the country, the Republic and democracy, to provide happiness, peace and affluence for people and the society, to abolish political, economic and social obstacles that limit by not being compatible with the principles of justice and a social legal state and the basic rights and freedoms of people, and to try to prepare the required conditions for the development of the material and spiritual existence of people".

THE USE OF SOVEREIGNTY
Sovereignty is vested in the nation without reservation or condition. The Turkish Nation shall exercise its sovereignty through the authorised organs as prescribed by the principles laid down in the Constitution.
The right to exercise sovereignty shall not be delegated to any individual, group or class. No person or agency shall exercise any state authority, which does not emanate from the Constitution (Article 6).
Legislative power is vested in the Turkish Grand National assembly on behalf of the Turkish Nation. This power cannot be delegated (Article 7).
Executive power and function shall be exercised and carried out by the President of the Republic and the Council of Ministers in conformity with the Constitution and the laws (Article 8).
Judicial power shall be exercised by independent courts on behalf of the Turkish Nation (Article 9).

EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW
All individuals are equal without any discrimination before the law, irrespective of language, race, color, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect, or any such considerations.
No privilege shall be granted to any individual, family, group or class.
State organs and the administrative authorities shall act in compliance with the principle of equality before the law in all their proceedings (Article 10)

The Turkish Grand National Assembly
and its Working order

ORGANIZATION RIGHT TO VOTE AND BE ELECTED
According to the 7th Article of the Constitution, legislative power belongs to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) on behalf of the Turkish Nation. The TGNA is formed with 550 members of parliament who are elected with the general vote of the people. Parliamentary elections are held once every five years, are free, equal, single step, in accordance with the fundamentals of the general vote and are held under the general management and control of the judicial organs.

Every Turkish citizen who has entered 18 years of age has the right to vote and participate in a referendum. Every Turkish citizen who has completed 30 years of age can be elected as a member of parliament.

It is necessary to be a graduate of primary school at the minimum in order to be able to be elected as a member of parliament and in addition, it is necessary to have the other election qualifications written in the Constitution. The Assembly can make a decision to renew elections before the five-year period is filled. A new election can be held according to the decision of the President under the conditions stated in the Constitution.
A by-election is held in case there is a vacancy occurring in memberships. A by-election is held one time in that election period. For this, it is required that thirty months have passed since the general election. However, in case the number of member vacancies is five percent (28) of the complete number of members and there is a period of more than one year until the general elections, a decision is made to hold a by-election with-in three months. Apart from these conditions, in case of there being not any member of one city or election area at the TGNA, a by-election is held on the first Sunday after 90 days following the vacancy. A by-election which will be because of this reason can not be held with the general or by elections related to local elections.
The Members of Parliament do not represent the region from which they were elected or those who voted for them, but do represent the entire Turkish Nation.
When they start their duties in the Assembly, they make an oath before the nation by reading a written text in the Constitution from the podium.
The Member of Parliament Oath is as follows:

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 peace and prosperity in society, national solidarity and justice, and loyalty to the Constitution.

LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY
Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly shall not be liable for their votes and statements concerning parliamentary functions, 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 arrested, interrogated, detained or tried unless the Assembly decides otherwise. This provision shall not apply in cases where a member is caught in the act of committing a crime punishable by a heavy penalty and in cases subject to Article 14 of the Constitution if an investigation has been initiated before the election. However, in such situations the competent authority shall notify the Turkish Grand National Assembly immediately and directly.
The execution of a criminal sentence imposed on a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly 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 whether or not the Assembly lifts immunity in the case of the individual involved.
Political party groups in the Turkish Grand National Assembly shall not hold discussions or take decisions regarding parliamentary immunity.
The TGNA makes a decision on lifting legislative immunity upon the request that will come from the courts.

THE FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE TGNA
The basic function of the Assembly is to make laws and supervise the executive within an environment of debate and evaluation. All the activities of the Assembly are executed according to the Rules of Procedure that it made itself.
Under the destitution the functions and powers of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, are as follows:

• To enact, change and repeal laws; to supervise the Council of Ministers and Ministers;
• To give the authority to the Council of Ministers to issue governmental decrees having force of law on certain matters;
• To debate and approve the budget draft and the draft law of the final accounts;
• To decide to print currency and to declare war;
• To see fit to be ratified of international agreements, to decide with the three fifth's of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on the proclamation of amnesties and pardons; to decide to be applied death sentences passed by the courts;
• To exercise powers and execute functions envisaged in the other articles of the Constitution.

CONVENTION AND ADJOURNMENT
On the fifth day following the announcement by the Election Commission of the definite results of a parliamentary election, the General Assembly convenes without being summoned. The oath taking ceremony of the members of parliament is held at first meeting.
Every year 1 October is the start of a new legislative year within the five-year legislative period of the Assembly. The General Assembly, in accordance with the Constitution, starts the legislative and supervisory activities for that year by convening automatically on 1 October.
The Assembly may be in recess for a maximum of three months in a legislative year.
In general the start of the recess is around the beginning of July and continues until 31 September.
The Assembly, outside the recess, can also take an intermission in their activities, which does not exceed fifteen days.
The decisions for recess (except of being in recess by 1 July) and intermissions are made by taking a vote in the General Assembly.
During the recess or intermission, the President of the Republic may summon the Assembly on his own initiative or at the request of the Council of Ministers. The President of the Assembly may also summon the Assembly on his own initiative or at the written request of one-fifth (110) of the members.

THE BUREAU OF THE ASSEMBLY
The Bureau of the Assembly is composed of 15 members including the President, four Deputy Presidents, seven Secretary Members and three Administrative Members all elected from among the members of parliament.
Two elections are held during one legislative period for the memberships of the Bureau of the Assembly. The period of the first election is two years, while the period of the second election is three years.
The Bureau carries out the duties given by the laws and the Rules of Procedure. In general, it examines the claims of mistakes in the voting and elections in the General Assembly and makes a decision. It makes regulatory decisions and promulgates written regulations on matters such as foreign relations, personal affairs of parliamentarians and of the Assembly personnel, their health and social needs and security

POLITICAL PARTY GROUPS
Political party groups are established according to the provisions of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure. Political parties which are represented by at least twenty members of parliament in the TGNA have the right to form a group. The political party groups are working according to Group by-laws which they have made themselves. In general they gather once a week and they make decisions and determine strategy on various subjects through debates and evaluations related to the activities.

CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
The Consultative Committee is one of the active and significant institutions of the Assembly. It is composed under the chairmanship of the President of the TGNA and chairmen or deputy chairmen of each political party group. Chairmen or deputy chairmen of political party groups may appoint one to represent themselves.
It has a function of dialogue among the groups, that provides reconciliation and regulation of the Assembly activities. Important duties have been given to the Consultative Committee in many articles of the Rules of Procedure. The Consultative committee proposals and recommendations, which have the signatures of the group representatives, are generally adopted by the General Assembly without changing anything.

COMMITTEES
The committees, which constitute the foundation for the legislative and supervisory activities of the Assembly, are specialized committees, which undertake activities on various subjects. They perform duties on behalf of the General Assembly.

There are 17 committees in the TGNA that have been established according to the provisions of the constitution and the Rules of Procedure. The political parties, according to the proportion of their number of members, are represented in the committees.

The Assembly Committees, according to their fields of interest, are listed as follows

The Constitutional Committee
The Justice Committee
The National Defense Committee
The Internal Affairs Committee
The Foreign Affairs Committee
The National Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Committee
The Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Knowledge and Technology Committee
The Public Works, Reconstruction, Transportation and Tourism Committee
The Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Committee
The Health, Family, Labour and Social Affairs Committee
The TGNA Examination of Accounts Committee
The Petition Committee
The Examination of Human Rights Committee
The Environment Committee
The State Economic Enterprises Committee
The Plan and Budget Committee
The European Union Entegration Committee

The Assembly Examination of Accounts Committee is composed of 15 members, the Petition Committiee of 15 members, The European Union Entegration Committee 18, the State Economic Enterprises Committee of 35 members, the Plan and Budget Committee of 40 members and the other committees of 24 each members. The number of members of the committees except of The State Economic Enterprises and The Plan and the Budget Committees is determined by The General Assembly on top of a proposal of The Consultative Committee.
Forty-eight hours after the date of referral, the Committees may start their discussions of the draft bills which are sent to them by the Assembly Presidentship. One of the important duties of the committees as well, is to examine primarily, the conformity of the draft bills with the Constitution. They can approve or veto the draft bills which they discuss without changing anything or by changing them. They send to the Assembly chairmanship in the form of a report the activities which they have settled with a decision to be discussed in the General Assembly.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly is the basic organ where the legislative and supervisory process comes to a conclusion, subjects are discussed and debated and are settled with a final decision.
During the legislative year, the General Assembly convenes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with the exception of official holidays. Upon the proposal of the Consultative Committee, the General Assembly can change the date and hours at which they convene; if required, a decision can be made to hold meetings on the other days as well.
The General Assembly convenes with a minimum of 184 members of parliament (one third of the total number of members).
The votes of more than half of those participating in the session are sought to be able to make a decision in the voting made in the General Assembly; however, the quorum cannot in any manner be less than 139 (one more than one fourth of the total number of members).
All the discussions in the General Assembly are open to everyone. Just as the discussions are published in the "Assembly Minutes Magazine", they can also be published or broadcast freely by various communications media such as the press, radio and television.
A decision for a "closed session" of the General Assembly can be made upon the formal written request of the Prime Minister, a minister, a political party group or 20 members of parliament. The discussions at the closed session have the attribute of a "State secret". They cannot be divulged in any manner by those who are present at the session. The minutes of a closed session can be published ten years later. The General Assembly makes a decision to publish these earlier or later, upon the proposal of the Consultative Committee.

ENACTING LAWS


The members of parliament and the Council of Ministers are authorized to propose laws. Besides a draft bill that is prepared by the Council of Ministers, a proposal can also be prepared by one or more than one member of parliament. It is presented to the Presidency of the Assembly signed and with justifications.
The draft bills or proposals are sent directly to the related main and secondary committees according to their subjects by the Presidency of the Assembly. It is announced to the members of parliament by publishing it on the "Incoming Documents" list.
Main committee is the committee whose report is based on at the General Assembly discussions. Secondary comittees are the committees informing view about the related parts or articles of the work.
Forty-eight hours after the date of referral, the committees can start their discussions of the draft bills which are sent to them by the Assembly Presidentship. It is also required for main committees to conclude them witin 45 days at the most. If the draft bills sent to a secondary committee, the committee inform their views within 10 days.
The committee discusses and votes on the bill text article by article. During discussion a committee member may propose to amend part or the entire article of the bill.

The committee, which completes the discussions on the draft bill or proposal, presents the report it has prepared related to the subject to the Presidency of the Assembly to be placed on the agenda of the General Assembly.
The committee report that is printed by giving a file number, is not put on the General Assembly agenda and is not discussed before 48 hours has elapsed, if there is not a decision to the contrary.
In the General Assembly discussions, first of all, the floor is given for definite periods to the political party groups, the government and the members of parliament concerning the entire draft bill or proposal. Later, by taking a vote, it proceeds to discussions of the articles of the draft bill or proposal. In case it is not accepted to advance to the articles, it means that the draft bill or the proposal has been rejected A rejected text can not be given again in the same legislative period before a year has passed.
After approving the proceeding to the articles, every article is discussed and voted on one by one. After the completion of the discussions, a vote is made on the entire draft bill or proposal.
The draft bill or proposal which is approved in the General Assembly can be considered to have become a law.
The law emerging from the Assembly is sent to the President of the Republic to be published in the Official Gazette for it to be able to go into effect and be applied. The President, by signing the law within 15 days, is in the position of having the law published.
The laws which the President does not find to be appropriate to be published can be sent back to the Assembly within 15 days, by showing a justification, to be discussed once more.
If the Assembly approves of the law sent back without changing anything/then this time the President is forced to publish the law. In this situation, the President, by starting within 60 days from the date of the publication of the law, can use his/her right to open an action for nullity directly at the Constitutional Court with the claim of its disagreement with the Constitution.
If the assembly makes a change in the law sent back by the President to be discussed once more, then the President has the authority to send the changed law back to the Assembly once again.
The Budget Laws are outside of this process. They can not be sent back by the President and go into effect by being published.

CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION
The process that will be applied in proposals for a change in the Constitution are different compared with the other draft bills and proposals. Changing the Constitution can be proposed by 184 members of parliament (one-third of the total number of members). In other words, a government draft bill cannot be prepared on this subject.

The proposals for changing the Constitution are discussed twice in the General Assembly. The approval of the proposal is possible with the secret ballot of 330 of the members of parliament (three-fifths of the total number of members).

The President can also send back to the Assembly the laws changing the Constitution to be discussed once more. If the Assembly approves with 367 votes (two-thirds of the total number of members) the law sent back without changing anything, the President can submit this law to a referendum.

A law changing the Constitution which is approved in the General assembly with a minimum of 330 votes or less than 367 votes, if it is not sent back to the assembly by the President, is published in the Official Gazette to be submitted to a referendum. A changed law or articles that are approved with 367 or more votes can be submitted to a referendum by the President. A changed law or the related articles which are not submitted to a referendum come into effect by being published.
It is necessary for the "yes" votes to be more than half of the valid votes balloted in a referendum.

THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY'S SUPERVISORY FUNCTION
An important function of the Assembly is to supervise the executive and to follow the policies applied by the Council of Ministers. At the top of the means of supervision and research come the "written and verbal questions" directed at the government or the ministers one by one. The replies which will be received from the prime minister or the ministers can pave the way to a motion for an "interpellation" which is a more extensive and effective means of supervision.
Interpellation is a motion which has the objective of arriving at a clarity in the policies followed or to remove from power the Council of Ministers or the related Minister by holding him/her responsible due to the general policy of the Council of Ministers or the applications of a Minister. The motion for interpellation can be made with the signatures of at least 20 members of parliament or on a behalf of a political party group. It is possible to remove from power the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers or a minister with 276 votes (more than half the total number of members).
Another significant form of supervision is an "Assembly Investigation". It is a formal request to open an investigation concerning the Prime Minister who is in office or who has departed from office or the ministers with the claim that they undertook practices which were in violation of the laws during their office. In case the motion is approved in the General Assembly, an "Investigation Committee" is formed from among the members of parliament. First of all the report prepared by the Committee is discussed in the General Assembly. At the conclusion of the discussions, in the event that the General Assembly deems it necessary, a decision can be made to send the concerned person/persons to be tried at the High Court (Constitutional Court).
An "Assembly Inquiry" is another method within the supervisory and research authority of the TGNA. In case this motion is approved, which is given for obtaining information on a specific subject, an "Assembly Inquiry Committee" is formed which is selected from among the members of parliament. The report prepared by the Committee is opened for discussion in the General Assembly.
Another of the activities of the Assembly for obtaining information is the "General Debates" which provides for the discussion of a specific topic related to the activities of the State and the life of the society. In case a decision is made to open General Debates, a determination of a special agenda is made for the day on which the discussion will be held.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
The Assembly is a member of various international organizations. Especially since 1983, the dimensions and the scope of the foreign relations of the Assembly have displayed a gradually increasing development.
The members of parliament are in a continuous and intensive relationship with the international organizations, the inter-parliamentary- visits and the inter-parliamentary friendship groups that are reciprocally established, and with the parliaments and parliamentarians of other foreign countries.
The foreign relations of the Assembly have been organized with a law.
The international organizations of which Turkey is a member and is represented by members of parliament are as follows:

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The North Atlantic Assembly The Inter-Parliamentary Union
The Turkey - European Community Joint Parliamentary Committee
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
The Association of Asian Parliaments For Peace
The Parliamentary Union of Organization of Islamic Conference Member Countries
The Inter-Parliamentary Union

Furthermore, Turkey is not a full member of the The Western European Union Inter Parliamentary Assembly of The Europe Security and Defense, she has a "associate membership status".

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SERVICE UNITS
There is as "General Secretariat Organization" attached to the President of the Assembly to provide support services on subjects such as the legislative and supervisory activities at the Assembly, the administrative, financial and social requirements of the members of parliament, relations with the press, visitors and security.
The General Secretariat and the connected units carry out many duties and services such as performing the required procedures during the activities of promulgation and supervision of laws; being of assistance to the members of parliament in the preparation of proposals; preparation of reports on the activities of the committees; writing and printing of the minutes; obtaining all kinds of information and documents; library, document and archive services; various printing jobs; press and public relations; health and social activities; communications; transportation; and care, operation and repair of the Assembly buildings and parks.

ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP
The General Secretariat has been formed with a Secretary General. Directorates and Department Chairmanships connected to three Assistant Secretary Generals for legislative, administrative and technical work.
In addition, the police and military personnel assigned to the Presidency of the Assembly perform the security services.
Meanwhile, the consultants within the structure of the Presidency of the Assembly and the General Secretariat prepare research study reports on various subjects such as law, culture, art, economics and foreign relations and undertake consultative duties such as obtaining information and making their opinions known.

CULTURE, ART AND PUBLICATION BOARD
A "Culture, Art and Publication Board" was formed with a decision of the Bureau in the framework of the publicity function of the President of the Assembly the Assembly and the Assembly activities.
The President of the Assembly is the permanent Chairman of the Board, while the Chairmanship of the Board is performed by a Deputy President. The board of directors is composed of three members elected in the Bureau and one each member who represent the political party groups.

The Board prepares promotional publications on all aspects of the Assembly; organizes symposia, conferences and panel discussions; holds contests and opens exhibitions. It prepares various programs throughout the country for the celebration of 23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Holiday which is the opening day of the Assembly. It organizes scientific, cultural and artistic activities for the diffusion and promotion of democracy and the principle of national sovereignty.

THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING

HISTORY
The Assembly building of today is the third building of the Turkish parliament that was established on 23 April 1920 based on the principle of national sovereignty.
The construction of the building located in the Ulus district of Ankara where the first meeting of the national parliament was held was started by architect Hasip Bey in 1915. After Atatürk's arrival in Ankara on 27 December 1919, it was decided to use the structure as the Assembly building. The first period Bursa Member of Parliament Necati Bey was given the duty of undertaking the needed repairs and arrangements for making the building suitable for the meetings of the Assembly.

THE FIRST BUILDING
The first parliament building is a one story stone structure over a basement with the dimensions of 22X43 meters, and one somewhat large hall and nine rooms of all sizes. A richness and depth was gained for the external fagades with arches/broad eaves and two balconies.
This very small, unsuitable building where all the military and political decisions were made during the War of Independence and the establishment of the State and where the Republic was proclaimed was used up until 18 October 1924.
This historical building is now open to the public as the "War of Independence Museum".

THE SECOND BUILDING
The construction of the TGNAs second building was started by architect Vedat Bey (1873-1942) in 1923 and it was completed in a short period of time and was opened for use on 18 October 1924. The second building was in the same district and at a distance of approximately 50 meters from the first parliament building.
The interior sections of the structure which is two stories over a basement were arranged on three sides of the General Assembly meeting chamber in the center. The ceilings on the upper floor were adorned with Ottoman decorative motifs.
In the large meeting chamber are located loges for listeners and wooden wall panels decorated with star motifs.
There are a capital gate, arches, eaves and glazed tile decorations here and there on the external fagade.
As of the first years of the Republic, significant developments in Turkish political history were experienced at the second Parliament Building which was used for 36 years. This building also continues its existence today as the "Republic Museum".

THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT BUILDING

The architect of the third building where the activities of the TGNA are continuing at present was the Austrian architect Prof. Clemens Holzmeister (1886-1983) who won the project contest opened in 1938. Prof. Holzmeister was also at the same time the architect of many State structures in the capital city of Ankara. On 11 January 1937, with a law promulgated by the TGNA, it was decided to open a project contest for the construction of a new parliament building of a "monumental quality and suitable to the permanence of the Republic of Turkey and the architectural characteristics of the twentieth century". The contest in which 14 projects participated was finished on 28 January 1928 and the jury choose three projects worthy of a first prize. As a result, it was decided to apply Clemens Holzmeister's project which was also liked by Atatürk. The construction of the building was started on 26 October 1939 with the groundbreaking ceremony by Aldülhalik Renda (1881-1948), the Assembly Chairman od the period. Great difficulties were endured from time to time in finding financial resources for the construction of the building. Meanwhile, the starting of the Second World War also paved the way to even greater difficulties. For these reasons, the construction activities could only continue at intervals. The construction of the new Assembly building was acceleretad after 1957 and it was opened for use on January 1961. The Assembly located on a 475,521 square meter plot of land and the settlement area of the main building is 19,372 square meters. From the viewpoint of functional internal space the total volume is 56,775 square meters. The five story building has a front facade whose length is 248 meters. The architectural chararacteristics and the general structure of the TGNA building has been designed with a sober, wellbuilt and lasting attribute, in a manner that will symbolize the strength and immortality of the Republic of Turkey.

MAIN BUILDING

The Honor Entrance is located on the front facade of the Main Building in the central area and under the wings of the bridge are entrance doors one and two, while on the back facade entrance doors three and four are situated.

      
It is traversing with five large bronze doors from the Honor Entrance, which has a monumental quality, to the Reception Hall in the interior. From here it is entering a marbled hall and contemned galleries which have two inside gardens.

 
The General Assembly Meeting Hall is located in the central space which is surrounded by these galleries that are the lobbies of the members of parliament.
In the assembly hall there are 524 seats for the members and 955 in the audience loges for a total of 1479 seats.

Relative to the Chairman's podium, the loges on the left side are sections reserved for the President and the official administrators while on the right are located the loges of the diplomatic corps.
The first loge opposite the podium has been set aside for the members of the press and the loges above this loge have been retained for the audience composed of citizens.
Discussions in the General Assembly can also be followed outside of the assembly hall with a television system.
In the building, excluding the General Assembly Hall, there are three large meeting halls set aside for 176, 415 and 700 persons and in addition, there are 44 meeting rooms and 352 rooms of all sizes.
In one of the two winged sections attached with bridge crossings that extend on two sides of the building is located the office of the Assembly Presidency and its working offices and the rooms of the members of the Bureau; in the section at the other end is located the TGNA Ceremony Hall formed of three large concentric halls.

   
In the Main Building, excluding the General Assembly hall, are located the administrative offices reserved for the political parties, the meeting rooms of the committees, the Assembly library, the computer center, archive, offices set aside for the press and publication organizations, two large restaurants, the barber and shoeshine shops, the PTT, the airline and railroad ticket sales offices and the General Secretariat and the connected service units.

THE OFFICES OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THE OTHER SERVICE BUILDINGS
Behind the Assembly Main Building is the Public Relations Building reserved for the members of parliament where buildings and areas are found such as the covered parking lot and garage, mosque, personnel building, printing house, health center, heating center, outdoor sport facilities, greenhouse for flowers and security services.
The Public Relations Building where the working offices of the members of parliament and some of the service units are located as well was opened for service on 25 January 1984.
This building is 4 stories high and has an area of 14.000 square meters. It is composed of two separete blocks connected to each other by a bridge crossing. Furthermore, there is an underpass to the Main Building and the closed parking lot.

On every floor of the building are located 18 each rooms and 6 reception desks. The total number of rooms in one block is 432 and in addition there are 20 and 40 person capacity meeting rooms.
A study has been reserved in the building for every member of parliament. There are rooms set aside for the secretary and assistant personnel of the member of parliament. Technical equipment and materials have been provided, such as telephones, faxes and photocopy machines.
The parks and gardens are spread over a extensive area within the Assembly campus and have a rich texture in which over 200 types of plants are found. Prof. Dr. Yüksel Öztan is the project architect of the Assembly parks and gardens. The care and operation is undertaken by the Directorate of Parks and Gardens connected to the Assembly General Secretariat.

The present Parliament House put into service on 6 January 1961. Situated in a campus of 500.000 meter squares. Four storeyed- Length of the facade 248 meters. In respect of size, one of the leading parliament houses of the world.