Constitutional System of Turkey

This book provides a critical discussion of the Turkish constitutional system. Following an analysis of the socio-political context and the history of Turkey's constitutional development, the basic characteristics of the current (1982) Constitution are discussed, with special emphasis on secularism and nationalism which constitute the two pillars of the founding philosophy of the Republic (i.e., Kemalism). Further chapters focus on each of the three branches of government (parliament, the executive and the administration, and the judiciary) considered in light of current constitutional issues and debates. Two further important and also controversial issues relating to contemporary Turkish constitutionalism, namely, constitutional justice and constitutional amendment are also considered in separate chapters. This study concludes with an analysis of the current search for a new constitution.