Grand National Assembly
Introduction:
Grand National Assembly holds a pivotal position in the working of the Turkish political
system. It is organized on the established norms of a parliamentary setup and enjoys the
position of a supreme law-making body on the one hand, while performs the function of
controlling the executive authority on the other. It elects the persons for top positions
such as the President, Prime Minister and other ministers.
Composition:
Grand National Assembly is a unicameral legislature consisting of 550 members. All
members are directly elected by the people by secret ballot on the basis of adult suffrage.
Duration:
Duration of Grand National Assembly is five years subject to alteration under extra
ordinary conditions. It will, however, be four years after the next parliamentary election.
The Assembly is authorized to decide by the majority vote about the holding of fresh
elections prior to the completion of its prescribed duration.
Powers and Functions
1. Legislative Powers:
The primary function of the Grand National Assembly is to enact new laws and make
alterations, whenever required, in the existing laws. The ministers introduce most of the
bills on the floor of the assembly and actively participate in the process of law-making.
They normally remain present on the floor of the chamber to defend their policies and
pilot the bills through the legislative routine. Grand National Assembly may delegate the
power of issuance of decrees to the Council of Ministers. Such decrees hold the validity
of law so long as these remain operative. A law passed by the Assembly which authorizes
the executive to promulgate decrees, shall also specify its scope, duration and underlying
principles.
2. Control over the Executive:
All the members of the Council of Ministers participate in the deliberations of the
Assembly. They have to answer the questions asked by the members. The Assembly can
effectively control policy process by asking questions, moving resolutions and different
motions. Parliamentary inquiries are a useful device to check the autocratic trends of the
executive. The Assembly enjoys the most effective power to pass a no confidence motion
against the Cabinet and remove the ministers from the office.
All the treaties made with foreign countries and declaration of war, got to be ratified by
the Assembly. The Grand National Assembly is fully authorized to allow the use of army
in respect of fulfillment of treaty obligations or those of international law. The Assembly
is competent to allow the stay of foreign troops in Turkey or give them free passage in
Turkish territories. In pursuance of the fulfillment of international treaty obligations,
Turkish National Assembly shall be competent to depute army troops in a foreign country.
3. Control over Finance:
It is due to its control over financial legislation that the National Assembly can indirectly
shape public policies. The Assembly enacts finance Act and appropriation Act on the basis
of estimates of expenditure and proposals for raising funds. The legislators undertake
exhaustive deliberations on the budgetary proposals and frequently move cut motions to
tame the government.
4. Judicial Powers:
Though its legislative powers and fiscal control, National Assembly can indirectly affect
organization of judiciary and its working. It can also grant general amnesty but it does not
apply to the crimes committed against national ideology and country’s solidarity. National
Assembly exercises the right to confirm death sentences given by the courts.
5. Redressal of Grievances:
Being a popular chamber, Grand National Assembly performs an important role to redress
public grievances. During exhaustive deliberations on the floor of the House, public
problems are thoroughly examined and freely discussed. By passing different resolutions,
the House can express its opinion, condemning or appraising certain policies.
6. Parliamentary Enquiries:
Request for holding parliamentary enquiry can be made with the support of one tenths
of the total membership of National Assembly, against the conduct of any minister or
even against the Prime Minister. The Assembly discusses the case thoroughly and makes
final decision by majority vote. The affected party has the right to present its case in the
Supreme Court.
