The Prime Ministry of Turkey

Before the proclamation of the Republic, the Turkish Grand National Assembly held the power of both legislation and execution. An elected committee from within the Assembly exercised executive power. The Chairman of Assembly was not only head of government but also president.

On 20 May 1933, the first legislation on the organization of the prime ministry was introduced. Back then, there were only 7 units and 34 staff members.

On March 1954, the organization structure of prime ministry was reconstituted and the responsibility of the below organization was given to undersecretary:

High Administration
Special Secretariat
Department of Acts and Decisions
General Directorate of Personnel and Letters
General Directorate of Publication and Collection.
General Directorate of Archives
Department of Supplies
Directorate of Documentation.

Until 1983, there has not been any significant change in the organization of the prime ministry, where an undersecretary, 3 deputy undersecretaries, several prime ministerial advisors, 8 units and 970 staff were working at the time.

In 1984, a new act was introduced to reorganize the prime ministry, which stated the duties of the Prime Ministry as follows:

1) To provide cooperation among ministries, to supervise the execution of government general policy, to take necessary measures with a view to providing public services as listed in the constitution and laws,

2) To develop the principles required for an efficient administration of state affairs, to supervise the implementation of the government program as well as the development of annual plans,

3) To examine acts, regulations and recommendations on decisions in terms of compliance with the constitution and other regulations, and to maintain relations with the legislation organ,

4) To set and improve the principles on the preparation of regulations, to ensure the codification and publication of active regulations,

5) To provide efficiency in administration, simplification of administrative processes and procedures, to follow developments in state organization systems,

6) To set principles for a more efficient system of supervision and inspection in the state organization, and to carry out supervision and inspection if deemed necessary,

7) To collect, evaluate and regulate important documents for Turkish Nation and State, to set up archive laboratories, to present archive documents to scientists and scientific activities,

8) To take necessary measures for an efficient crisis management at the time of natural disasters, migration and other important events threatening national security, and to ensure efficient coordination among public establishments in the crisis management.

Today, there are one undersecretary and 4 deputy undersecretaries assigned in the Prime Ministry, with12 main service departments, 4 advisory and supervisory departments and also 3 auxiliary departments. In addition, Prime Ministry Experts provide the main services in the overall organization.

(last updated: September 3, 2007 )