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Turkey

Republic of Türkiye

Civil lawUnitary presidential republicReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Ankara
Population
85,300,000
Languages
Turkish
Currency
TRY

Turkey · Constitution

Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye

Adopted by referendum in 1982 after the 1980 coup and amended many times since, most significantly in 2010 and 2017. The 2017 package, approved by a narrow referendum majority and effective from 2018, abolished the office of Prime Minister, transferred executive power to a directly elected President who appoints ministers and vice-presidents without parliamentary confirmation, allowed presidential decrees in areas not reserved to statute, and restructured the judicial council. Articles 1 to 3 — the republican form, the secular and unitary character, the capital and the flag — are irrevocable and cannot be proposed for amendment.

The constitutional text

Adopted by referendum in 1982 after the 1980 coup and amended many times since, most significantly in 2010 and 2017. The 2017 package, approved by a narrow referendum majority and effective from 2018, abolished the office of Prime Minister, transferred executive power to a directly elected President who appoints ministers and vice-presidents without parliamentary confirmation, allowed presidential decrees in areas not reserved to statute, and restructured the judicial council. Articles 1 to 3 — the republican form, the secular and unitary character, the capital and the flag — are irrevocable and cannot be proposed for amendment.

Separation of powers

Unitary. 81 provinces administered by centrally appointed governors, alongside elected metropolitan and district municipalities with their own mayors and councils. Local government has genuine budgetary weight in the large cities but no legislative competence.

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