1961 Constitution's basic philosophy in the context of autonomous status institutions

This study focuses on the fundamental philosophy of the 1961 Constitution, examining the emergence, functionality, and position of autonomous institutions within the constitutional order. Addressing the concept of the constitution in its historical, political, and ideological dimensions, the study discusses in particular how the principles of liberalism, the social state, and the rule of law shaped the constitutional design. The constitution-making process carried out by the Constituent Assembly, formed after the May 27, 1960 military intervention, is evaluated in conjunction with the political and social dynamics of the period, and the extent to which the libertarian and pluralist approaches—regarded as the fundamental philosophy of the 1961 Constitution—were effective in restructuring the state is explored. The constitutional crises experienced during the Democrat Party (DP) government are analyzed within the framework of the weakening of the separation of powers, the erosion of judicial independence, and interventions in areas such as university autonomy and radio broadcasting. As a reaction to these crises, the 1961 Constitution sought to reorganize the establishment and functioning of the state within an approach aimed at limiting political power, strengthening the bureaucratic structure through new institutions such as the National Security Council, the Constitutional Court, the State Planning Organization, and autonomous bodies. In this context, the constitutional status and founding rationale of autonomous institutions—particularly universities and radio (TRT)—are examined within the framework of the political debates of the period, concluding that their autonomy and constitutional status were shaped by power relations and political culture.