1982 Turkish constitutional referendum

Last updated
1982 Turkish constitutional referendum
Flag of Turkey.svg
7 November 1982

Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes17,215,55991.37%
Light brown x.svgNo1,626,4318.63%
Valid votes18,841,99099.77%
Invalid or blank votes43,4980.23%
Total votes18,885,488100.00%
Registered voters/turnout20,690,91491.27%

Turkish constitutional referendum 1982 2.svg
Results by province

A constitutional referendum was held in Turkey on 7 November 1982. The new constitution was approved by 91% of voters, with a 91% turnout. [1]

Contents

Background

In 1980 the Grand National Assembly was scheduled to elect a new President to replace Fahri Korutürk. However, the parties were unable to agree on a candidate, and on 12 September 1980, the Turkish Armed Forces led by Kenan Evren staged a coup d'état, dissolved the Grand National Assembly and started ruling the country through the National Security Council.

The NSC set up a Consultative Assembly and appointed all 160 members. Political parties were shut down, and those who had been members of parties were excluded from the Assembly. [2] It worked from 23 November 1981 and 17 July 1982 to draw up the new constitution, [3] which would replace the 1961 document. Evren claimed the 1961 constitution had liberties "luxurious" for Turkey. [4]

New constitution

One of the transitional provisions of the constitution named Evren as President until 1989. [5] The constitution also banned civil society organisations from political activity, whilst political parties were banned from working with civil society organisations, including trade unions. [2] The Army was given a majority in the National Security Council, which was also deemed to be superior to the cabinet. [2]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For17,215,55991.37
Against1,626,4318.63
Total18,841,990100.00
Valid votes18,841,99099.77
Invalid/blank votes43,4980.23
Total votes18,885,488100.00
Registered voters/turnout20,690,91491.27
Source: Nohlen et al.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Vietnam</span> Political system of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The politics of Vietnam is dominated by a single party, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The President of Vietnam is the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Vietnam is the head of government, both of these are separate from the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam who leads the CPV and is head of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission, thus the General Secretary is the de facto supreme leader of Vietnam. Executive power is exercised by the government and the President of Vietnam. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly of Vietnam. The Judiciary is independent of the executive. The parliament adopted the current Constitution of Vietnam, its fifth, on 28 November 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Turkey</span> Head of state and head of government of Turkey

The president of Turkey, officially the president of the Republic of Türkiye, is the head of state and head of government of Turkey. The president directs the executive branch of the national government and is the commander-in-chief of the Turkish military. The president also heads the National Security Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Süleyman Demirel</span> President of Turkey from 1993 to 2000

Süleyman Sami Demirel was a Turkish politician, engineer, and statesman who served as the 9th President of Turkey from 1993 to 2000. He previously served as the Prime Minister of Turkey seven times between the years 1965 and 1993. He was the leader of the Justice Party (AP) from 1964 to 1980 and the leader of the True Path Party (DYP) from 1987 to 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmet Necdet Sezer</span> President of Turkey from 2000 to 2007

Ahmet Necdet Sezer is a Turkish statesman and judge who served as the tenth president of Turkey from 2000 to 2007. Previously, he was president of the Constitutional Court of Turkey from January 1998 to May 2000. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey elected Sezer as president in 2000 after Süleyman Demirel's seven-year term expired. He was succeeded by Abdullah Gül in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenan Evren</span> President of Turkey from 1980 to 1989

Ahmet Kenan Evren was a Turkish politician and military officer who served as the seventh President of Turkey from 1980 to 1989. He assumed the post by leading the 1980 military coup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prime Minister of Turkey</span> Head of government of the Republic of Türkiye (1920–2018)

The prime minister of Turkey, officially the prime minister of the Republic of Türkiye, was the head of government of the Republic of Türkiye from 1920 to 2018, who led a political coalition in the Turkish Parliament and presided over the cabinet. Throughout the political history of Turkey, functions and powers of the post have changed occasionally. Prior to its dissolution as a result of the 2017 Constitutional Referendum, the holder of the premiership was generally the dominant figure in Turkish politics, outweighing the president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand National Assembly of Turkey</span> Parliament of the Republic of Turkey

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey, usually referred to simply as the TBMM or Parliament, is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the National Campaign. This constitution had founded its pre-government known as 1st Executive Ministers of Turkey in May 1920. The parliament was fundamental in the efforts of Mareşal Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, 1st President of the Republic of Turkey, and his colleagues to found a new state out of the remnants of the Ottoman Empire.

The 1980 Turkish coup d'état, headed by Chief of the General Staff General Kenan Evren, was the third coup d'état in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the previous having been the 1960 coup and the 1971 coup by memorandum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Turkey</span> Overview of the procedure of elections in the Republic of Turkey

Elections in Turkey are held for six functions of government: presidential elections (national), parliamentary elections (national), municipality mayors (local), district mayors (local), provincial or municipal council members (local) and muhtars (local). Apart from elections, referendums are also held occasionally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judicial system of Turkey</span> National court system of the Republic of Turkey

The judicial system of Turkey is defined by Articles 138 to 160 of the Constitution of Turkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Security Council (Turkey)</span> Turkish government agency in charge of national security and foreign policy

The National Security Council is the principal government agency used by the President of Turkey for consideration of national security, military, and foreign policy matters with senior national security officials, and for coordinating these policies among various government agencies. Like the national security councils of other countries, the MGK develops the national security policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitutional Court of Turkey</span> Highest legal body for constitutional review in Turkey

The Constitutional Court of Turkey is the highest legal body for constitutional review in Turkey. It "examines the constitutionality, in respect of both form and substance, of laws, decrees having the force of law, and the Rules of Procedure of the Turkish Grand National Assembly". If necessary, it also functions as the Supreme Criminal Court to hear any cases raised about the President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, or judges of the high courts. In addition to those functions, it examines individual applications on the grounds that one of the fundamental rights and freedoms within the scope of the European Convention on Human Rights which are guaranteed by the Constitution has been violated by public authorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitutional history of Turkey</span> Overview of the constitutional history of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire

Over the centuries, Turkey has had many constitutions and can be characterised by the steady establishment of a nation-state, democratisation and recognition of international law.

Osman Mümtaz Soysal was a Turkish professor of constitutional law, political scientist, politician, human rights activist, ex-prisoner of conscience, senior advisor, columnist, and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of Turkey</span> Supreme law of the Republic of Turkey

The Constitution of Turkey, formally known as the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye, also known as the Constitution of 1982, is Turkey's fundamental law. It establishes the organization of the government,and sets out the principles and rules of the state's conduct along with its responsibilities in regards to its citizens. The constitution also establishes the rights and responsibilities of the latter while setting the guidelines for the delegation and exercise of sovereignty that belongs to the Turkish people.

Political violence in Turkey became a serious problem in the late 1970s and was even described as a "low-level civil war". The death squads of Turkish right-wing ultranationalist groups, sometimes allied with the state, against the resistance of the left-wing opposition inflicted some 5,000 casualties. Most of the victims were left-wingers. The level of violence lessened for a while after the 1980 Turkish coup d'état until the Kurdish-Turkish conflict erupted in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Turkish politics</span> Overview of the position of women in Turkish politics

Women in Turkey have an active participation in national politics, and the number of women in the Turkish parliament has been increasing steadily in recent elections.

Events in the year 1983 in Turkey.

The Advisory Parliament existed from 15 October 1981 to 6 December 1983. It was established by the military rule of 1980 Turkish coup d'état. 120 MPs were representatives of the provinces and 40 MPs were appointed by the military rule.

The National Security Council was a military junta established to exercise legislative authority after the seizure of the country's government by the 1980 Turkish coup d'état. It consisted of Chief of General Staff General Kenan Evren, Commander of the Land Forces General Nurettin Ersin, Commander of the Naval Forces Admiral Nejat Tümer, Commander of the Air Force General Tahsin Şahinkaya, and Commander of the Gendarmerie General Sedat Celasun.

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I, p254 ISBN   0-19-924958-X
  2. 1 2 3 Ergun Özbudun (2012) Turkey’s Search for a New Constitution Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Insight Turkey, Vol 14, pp39-50
  3. Turkey, 7 November 1982: Constitution Direct Democracy
  4. Güçlü, Abbas (2003-09-25). "61 Anayasası Türkiye'ye büyük geldi". Milliyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  5. Gökçer Tahincioğlu, Türker Karapınar (2012-04-02). "Darbe İktidarı 32 yıl sonra sanık sandalyesinde". Milliyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2013-07-15.