Legislative body in the 1924 constitution

The 1924 Constitution represents a significant milestone in the constitutional development of the Republic of Turkey, as it defined the fundamental organs of the state and established a governance model based on national sovereignty. This constitution aimed to strike a balance between the parliamentary system and the system of government by assembly in the post-Republic era. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) was designated as the sole holder of legislative power and emerged as a strong authority. This study examines the legislative provisions of the 1924 Constitution and uses the designation of TBMM as the "sole and true representative of the nation" and the exclusive granting of legislative power to the Assembly as a starting point to explore how the principle of national sovereignty was emphasized. The research includes not only a textual analysis of the constitution but also an evaluation of its implementation in practice. It particularly investigates the role of the legislative body during the transition from a system of government by assembly to a parliamentary system, and its oversight function over the executive. The transformation between elements inherited from the Ottoman Kanun-i Esasi and the articles regulating the legislature in the 1924 Constitution is discussed in terms of how it influenced the institutional infrastructure of the Republic. The study is limited to the legislative aspects of the 1924 Constitution and does not address the executive or judicial branches. The aim of this thesis is to examine in depth the legislative function and the constitutional structuring of the TBMM. Legislative processes and the powers of the Assembly are evaluated as critical components forming the constitutional foundation. Issues such as parliamentary elections and the relationship between the legislative and executive branches are analyzed to clarify the link between the constitutional text and its practical application. Furthermore, the position of the 1924 Constitution's legislative body is assessed in the context of international constitutional law. The thesis demonstrates how a system of popular sovereignty was established through the constitution and analyzes the role of TBMM within the political system. By uniting legislative and executive powers, the principle of the unity of powers was embraced, positioning the legislative body as the central authority of all state functions. The design of the legislature shows how the principle of national sovereignty was blended with modern parliamentary democracy, and how the constitution empowered TBMM with oversight over both legislative and executive domains. This study offers a detailed examination of the influence of the 1924 Constitution on the legislative body, considering the social and political conditions of the period.