Volatility in politics, stability in parliament: An impossible dream? The Turkish Grand National Assembly during the last two decades

Abstract

Can a parliament become highly institutionalised and serve as an agent of democratic consolidation in an unstable political environment? Turkey's case provides answers to this question. It is observed that in the Turkish parliamentary system, where the government prevails over the legislature and the government parties over parliamentary oppositions, the party system and the parties have been in constant change, negatively affecting the pace and level of institutionalisation of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). It is noted that rules of procedure are in need of change, but the TGNA has had difficulty in producing new rules. Committees have little power in determining the content of legislation and staff support is weak. Over time, however, a constitutional system of checks and balances constraining parliament's power has evolved. It is concluded that behind this appearance of constant change, the parliament functions along reasonably well-established lines and has become a central institution in the democratic consolidation process.