Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM)

Composition and election

Members of the assembly are elected by popular vote and serve fixed terms. Elections use a party-list proportional representation method in multi-member electoral districts; historically the D'Hondt formula has been applied and a national threshold has affected party representation. The size of the chamber and term length have changed over time through constitutional amendment and referendums. The body is presided over by a Speaker, who is chosen by deputies at the start of a legislative term.

Functions and powers

The assembly's principal responsibilities include proposing and passing laws, approving the annual budget, supervising public administration and ratifying international agreements. It can form parliamentary commissions, launch inquiries and — under constitutional rules — lift deputies' immunities. Constitutional reforms in recent decades have altered the balance of power between the legislature and the executive, but lawmaking and budgetary authority remain core parliamentary functions.

History and significance

The TBMM was established in Ankara on 23 April 1920 during the national independence movement that led to the Republic of Turkey. That date is commemorated nationally as a symbol of popular sovereignty and civic foundation. From its founding, the assembly played a central role in the transition from the Ottoman imperial order to a modern republican state and in drafting the early republican constitution and legal framework.

Practice, location and procedure

The assembly sits in its parliamentary premises in Ankara, where plenary sessions, committee work and formal votes take place. Parliamentary business follows standing orders: bills are introduced, debated, amended and voted upon; committees examine technical detail; and deputies represent electoral constituencies. The Speaker manages sessions and procedural matters — for example, Mustafa Şentop was elected Speaker by his peers in 2019.

Notable facts

• The assembly is a central institution in Turkey's constitutional order and a focal point for national debate and legislation.
• Its founding date, 23 April, is observed as National Sovereignty and Children's Day.
• Parliamentary practice and powers have evolved through major constitutional reforms, reflecting changes in governance and the executive-legislative relationship.