The political atmosphere of Constitutional amendments in Turkey: The case of the 2010 Constitutional amendment

Constitutions are texts that regulate the establishment and functioning of the state and are described as a social contract. Usually founding power makes it difficult to ament constitutions so that the order it has established does not change easily. However, the social and political events experienced prepare the ground for the constitutional amendment. The process by which the amendments to be made in the constitutions are shaped and the methods by which they are created is an important issue in terms of the legitimacy and democracy of the constitutions. Every constitutional amendment has its own unique environment. The 1982 Constitution is a constitution that emerged as a result of a coup process, and therefore the effects of bureaucratic and military tutelage are intensely felt in the constitution. The constitutional amendment made in 2010 is important, especially in order to reduce the impact of military and legal tutelage. Event such as the 367 Decree before the constitutional amendment, the E-memorandum, the inability to elect the president, and the closure case against the ruling party (AK Party) played an important role in shaping the public opinion. The çivil democratization desire of the society showed itself in the referendum and the 2010 Constitutional amendment was accepted with 57% of the votes.