Central Administration in Türkiye

The term “central organization” refers to the system that is utilized by the central government in order to organize and provide public services, in addition to the collection of public revenues, which may include taxes.

• In spite of the fact that the central structure makes it possible for a powerful and comprehensive government to exist, it also results in delays in the delivery of services, complicated bureaucratic procedures, and an underestimation of the requirements of the local population. • A specific point of argument is that a central institution would be able to assist in the process of achieving a balance between the social and economic progress of various regions across a country. • There is a possibility that central organizations could make it simpler to attain neutrality by disintegrating the links that allow local managers to communicate with the individuals they serve. • It has been found that there is a connection between low levels of motivation in organizations that are centralized in absolute terms and decreased levels of public pressure on bureaucrats. Furthermore, it is far more challenging to encourage democratic participation of the local community in the decision-making process.

The modern administrative structure of Türkiye, which is specified in the Constitution of Türkiye, includes both central organizations and local field organizations, as well as the idea of devolution of powers. Through its offices, commissions, ministries, and other public agencies, the central government, which is overseen by the Presidency, is responsible for overseeing the most important administrative activities. It is the responsibility of local field administrations, which are structured by geographical regions such as provinces and municipalities, to manage services that are specifically customized to meet the requirements of the local community. Local governments are granted some degree of autonomy to make decisions within the framework of national policy through the implementation of the idea of devolution. This strikes a balance between central control and local governance, resulting in a system that is both more efficient and more responsive.

The traditional central government structure of the Ottoman Empire was Sultan and Divan-ı Hümayun (Sultan’s Supreme Court, the Imperial Council). Under the command of the reigning Sultan, Divan-ı Humayun included members such as the Grand Vizier, viziers, the kazasker (military judge), defterdars (treasurer), and the nişancı (sealer), who is sealing royal precepts and managing the office conducting transactions for foreign affairs. Furthermore, the Grand Vizier (Sadrazam) used the authority of the Sultan in executing public affairs with the help of Kethudas, special bureaucrats responsible for various tasks. T he members, their roles, and their importance in the Divan-ı Humayun system evolved for more than five hundred years until Mahmud II. 

Among the critical developments during Mahmud II’s reign are Sened-i İttifak, an alliance agreement with local power figures, abolishment of the Janissary Army, and foundation of a new governmental and bureaucratic system.

As a reformist Sultan, Mahmud II, following the governmental structures of Western countries, also established an important council, Meclis-i Vala-yı Akham-ı Adliye for implementation of his reform agenda. Shortly referred to as Meclis-i Vala, this council became a critical structure for making laws and regulations and making judicial decisions on administrative violations by bureaucrats and worked as the appeal court for some crimes such as murders committed by ordinary people. Thus, it acted like a legislative and judiciary organ.

Restructuring of the Eyalet system included reorganization of the Sancak administration, Nahiyes, and Köys. While governors continued to hold their positions, the Eyalet bureaucracy was reorganized with civil servants appointed by the central administration. A new type of bureaucrat, Muhassıl, was sent to Sancaks, replacing Sancak beys. Furthermore, the geographic boundaries of Sancaks were redrawn, and a new administrative structure was created for both Nahiyes and Köys. Accordingly, a Müdür and a Muhtar (Village Head) were appointed by the central government to each Nahiye and Köy, respectively. Kazas were administered by “Vekil” (Representative of the Muhassıl ).

The referendum held on April 16, 2017, drastically changed the capital organization of the central government by repealing the Council of Ministers and prime ministry. In the new system, the power is vested in the President, who makes the decisions and represents the executive branch and the capital organization of the Turkish Public Administration. Although there exists a president’s cabinet including the ministers, it is more of a means of cooperation and collaboration than a decision-making body.

The President’s term of office is five years.

To be elected as the President, a candidate must be or have the following qualifications: • A Turkish citizen • Over forty years old • Eligible to be a deputy of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (GNAT) • A higher education degree However, a person with these qualifications cannot simply be a formal candidate for the election of the President. Instead, S/he can be nominated through either of the following three bodies or citizens: • A political party having a group in GNAT. • Political parties that received at least five percent of valid votes, either individually or collectively, in the latest parliamentary elections. In this case, these political parties with five percent of the vote can be without any deputies and outside GNAT. • At least one hundred thousand voters.

The most important power of the President over the judiciary is to appoint members or prosecutors of some high courts, as regulated in the constitution. This includes the following: • Appointing the members of the Constitutional Court (Anayasa Mahkemesi). • Appointing the Chief Public Prosecutor and the Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor of the High Court of Appeals (Yargıtay). • Appointing the members of the Council of State (Danıştay). • Appointing the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK).

An important component of the new system is policy councils that advise and assist the President to develop national policies and monitor ministries and relevant bureaucracies. There are 9 councils led by the President. These commissions are stated below: • Science, Technology and Innovation Policies Council • Education and Training Policies Council • Economic Policies Council • Security and Foreign Policies Council, • Legal Policies Council, • Culture and Art Policies Council, • Health and Food Policies Council, • Social Policies Council, • Local Government Policies Council

The minister is the highest supervisor of the ministry organization and is responsible for the ministry’s actions, activities, and transactions of those under his/her command. In addition to the President, ministers can also issue regulations and conduct other regulatory transactions that are subject to judicial review. A minister is also responsible for overseeing and supervising the activities, transactions, and accounts of the central, provincial, foreign, and affiliated/related departments of the ministry.

There are four institutions assisting the central administration in the execution of the President’s policies: the National Security Council, the Council of State, the Court of Accounts, and the Economic and Social Council. Two of these organizations, the Council of State and the Court of Accounts, are courts overseeing the central and local administrations. However, they provide some special administrative services contributing to the quality and effectiveness of the Turkish public administration. The other two organizations are councils assisting the President regarding national security or economic and social issues.

The Court of Accounts, on behalf of the GNAT, audits revenues, expenditures, and assets of the social security institutions and public administrations financed from the “central government budget.” Based on its audits, the Court of Accounts also makes final decisions on the accounts and acts of the responsible officials. On the other hand, the Court of Accounts, as an assistant to the central government, reviews and provides opinions on drafted regulations of public authorities. Any regulation regulating financial issues cannot be part of legislation and implemented without the opinion of the Court of Accounts.

• Ensuring the participation of economic and social units in the formation of the Government’s economic and social policies and conducting work to strengthen the Learning Outcomes reconciliation and cooperation between the State and social groups, as well as among the social groups themselves, • Presenting opinions, suggestions, and reports to relevant authorities, • Establishing permanent and temporary working committees and determining their members, reviewing reports of these committees, • Determining the members of the TürkiyeEuropean Union Joint Consultative Committee by considering the structure and characteristics of the European Union Economic and Social Committee and monitoring the Committee’s activities, • Organizing seminars and meetings at national and international levels in line with their objectives and sending representatives to meetings.

In accordance with the Constitution, the field organization (taşra örgütü) of the central administration includes provinces (iller), districts (ilçeler), and regional organizations of ministries or their related public agencies.

There are three important administrative organs of a province, which are the governor (vali), provincial administration board (il idare kurulu), and provincial department heads of the ministries (il müdürleri).

All provincial bureaucrats of provincial administration, except for the military personnel, judges, and prosecutors, are subordinates of the governor.

The regional organizations provide specific public services in the name of the central government for more than one province.