THE SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN TURKEY

Yıl 2004, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 181 - 205, 01.06.2004

Hikmet Kavruk

Öz

The Turkish system oflocal government was set up in the late Ottoman period under the influence of the West. These institutions were expected to have signifıcant functions also after the declaration of the Republic. Despite being autonomous structures having incorporated public body, these institutions had to operate as institutions under the central government. The administrative tutelage of local governments has been applied strictly by the central gov­ernment. Its laws have become out of date and need to be brought up to date. The Constİtution determines the local administration units as local governments, provinces, municipalities and villages. Apart from the ones mentioned, Neighbourhoods of towns or cities having no public corporate personalities and local authority associations having public corporate body are also available. These must also be mode effective.Nowadays the problems of local government are being dİscussed more frequently. The draft of public administra­tion law, vvhich is directly related with local governments, has also been on the agenda of the Grand National Assembly. The draft law has been kept on the agenda and was expected to be passed as a law before the March 2004 local elections. However, the reform laws to be passed just after the new elections may be ftmctional. Changes on Iaws regulating local governments have also been prepared for this purpose and presented to the public opinion. The views of the public opinion can only be revealed through the media, the internet, the explanations of people or of institutions, and the reports prepared by political or academic circles. Today there is no doubt in public opinion that Turkish administrative organization has not been fiınctioning well and needs regulating. Only the arguments on the way in which the regulations will be implemented, the extent to which these regulations will bring reforms and the consequences of these regulations are expected to reach maturity.This study focuses on local governments that are parts of the Turkish public administration. The historical develop-ment, the regulation in the constitution, the local government units, the organizational structures, the duties and powers, and the electİon styles of the local government are pointed out in this study. The İssue of the administration of big cities has been explained under a separate tİtle. The general problems of local governments and the general approaches of the new draft laws towards local governments are presented separately.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Turkish Public Administration, Local Governments in Turkey, Municipality, Province Administrations, Villages, Big City Administration in Turkey, Local Administration Reform in Turkey