Local Administrations and Autonomous Agencies in Türkiye

In Türkiye, there are three different types of local administrations: Special Provincial Administration (İl Özel İdaresi), Municipality (Belediye), and Village (Köy).

Decentralization involves transferring the authority and responsibility for public functions from the central government to lower-level or semi-independent government organizations or the private sector. This concept encompasses various forms, including political, administrative, fiscal, and market decentralization. Administrative decentralization, specifically, is categorized into three main forms: deconcentration, delegation, and devolution.

The SPAs duties within Provincial Boundaries are: Special provincial administrations perform duties and provide services related to youth and sports, health, agriculture, industry and trade, the environmental plan of the province; public works and housing, land protection, prevention of erosion, cultural and artistic initiatives, tourism, social services, and provision of land for primary and secondary schools, and the construction, maintenance, and repair of primary and secondary school buildings.

The three main organs of SPAs are: General Provincial Council (İl Genel Meclisi), Provincial Executive Committee (İl Encümeni), and Governor (Vali).

The structure of provincial special administration consists of general secretariat, finance, health, agriculture, public works, human resources, and legal affairs departments.

Municipalities providelocal public services in the following fields:

• Urban infrastructure, including land-use planning, water and sewage systems, and transportation.
• Geographic and urban information systems.
• Environmental health, cleaning, and solid waste management.
• Municipal police, firefighting, emergency, rescue, and ambulance services.
• Urban traffic regulation.
• Funeral services and cemeteries.
• Parks, green spaces, and playgrounds.
• Housing initiatives.
• Cultural and artistic activities, tourism, youth and sports.
• Social services, marriage registration, and vocational training courses.
• Promoting economic development and trade.

The duties and powers of the municipal council are listed in detail in the Article of 18 of the Law No. 5393 and include:

• Negotiating and deciding on the municipality’s strategic plan, investment, and work programs.
• Approving the budget and final accounts.
• Negotiating and approving the municipality’s zoning plans.
• Authorizing borrowing.
• Accepting conditional donations.
• Granting concessions on behalf of the municipality and deciding on the privatization of municipal companies.
• Approving the regulations to be issued by the municipality.
• Naming public spaces, such as squares, streets, parks, and facilities, and deciding on the establishment of neighborhoods.
• Deciding on establishing unions with other local administrations or deciding to join or leave such unions.
• Awarding honorary fellowship title and certificate.

The primary responsibilities of the committee include:

• Reviewing the strategic plan, annual work program, budget, and final accounts, and offering opinion to the Municipal Council.
• Making and implementing expropriation decisions for projects included in the annual work program.
• Deciding how to spend the allowance for unforeseen expenses.
• Imposing penalties as prescribed by laws.

Duties and responsibilities of the mayor can be summarised as follows:

• Leading and managing the municipal administration.
• Administering the municipality in line with its strategic plan.
• Preparing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the municipal budget.
• Representing the municipality in official matters.
• Chairing meetings of both the Municipal Council and the Municipal Executive Committee.
• Implementing decisions made by the Municipal Council and the Executive Committee.
• Appointing municipal personnel.

The organs of neighbourhood administration are the neighbourhood headman (mahalle muhtarı) and the council of elders (ihtiyar heyeti).

• Identifying the collective needs of neighborhood residents through voluntary participation.
• Enhancing the quality of life within the neighborhood.
• Acting as a liaison between the neighborhood, the municipality, and other public institutions.
• Providing input on matters concerning the neighborhood.
• Collaborating with various institutions.
• Performing additional responsibilities as prescribed by law (Article 9 of Law No. 5393).

Since March 1984, in addition to the classical municipal administration, a two-tier system of metropolitan municipalities has been implemented in large cities.

The three main organs of the Metropolitan Municipality are: the Metropolitan Council (Büyükşehir Belediye Meclisi), the Metropolitan Executive Committee (Büyükşehir Belediye Encümeni), and the Metropolitan Mayor (Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı).

Finalized decisions must be submitted to the governor within seven days.

The committee consists of a total of eleven members and is chaired by the metropolitan mayor or, in the mayor’s absence, the secretary general.

Metropolitan Municipality Law No. 5216. Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing the metropolitan municipality’s strategic plan, annual targets, investment programs, and budget with the input of district municipalities.
• Preparing, approving, and implementing the master development plan within metropolitan boundaries.
• Making and implementing metropolitan transport plans, as well as managing public transport services.
• Providing essential infrastructure services, such as water supply and sewage systems.
• Establishing geographic and urban information systems.
• Constructing and maintaining squares, avenues, major roads, and high streets within the metropolitan area.
• Delivering municipal police services in areas under metropolitan jurisdiction.
• Safeguarding the environment and agricultural lands while developing and implementing metropolitan-level solid waste management plans.
• Supporting agricultural activities and livestock development through various services and initiatives.
• Establishing and managing regional parks, zoos, animal shelters, libraries, museums, and leisure and recreational facilities.

The duties and powers of the metropolitan mayor, as outlined in Article 18 of Law No. 5216, include:

• As the highest-ranking administrator, governing the metropolitan municipal administration and safeguarding the municipality’s rights and interests.
• Administering the metropolitan municipality in accordance with its strategic plan.
• Preparing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the budget.
• Representing the metropolitan municipality.
• Chairing the metropolitan council and executive committee, as well as implementing their decisions.
• Appointing personnel and overseeing the operations of the municipality and its affiliated organizations.

The village administration comprises three main bodies: the village headman (muhtar), the village assembly (köy derneği), and the village council of elders (köy ihtiyar heyeti). The village headman (muhtar) is head of the village administration.

The purposes of professional organizations are outlined in the Constitution as:

• Meeting the common needs of the members of the profession.
• Facilitating their professional activities.
• Ensuring the development of the profession in alignment with the public interest.
• Safeguarding professional discipline and ethics in order to ensure integrity and trust in relations among its members and with the public.

The main purpose of these authorities is to regulate and supervise the relevant sector by licensing, rule-making, monitoring, imposing sanctions, informing the public, consulting, and resolving dispute.