Summary
Highlights
The Constitutional Court consists of 15 members; 3 are elected by the Parliament and 12 by the President. Requirements include being at least 45 years old and meeting specific professional tenure criteria.
Members serve for a 12-year term and cannot be re-elected. The President of the Court is elected by the members among themselves for a 4-year term. Members retire upon reaching age 65.
The court operates in two sections and a general assembly. Decisions are generally made by a simple majority, with a two-thirds majority required for specific cases like the dissolution of political parties or constitutional amendments.
Responsibilities include ruling on political party closures, individual applications, and overseeing specific legislative procedures. The court acts as the 'Yüce Divan' for the trial of high-ranking officials.
The Constitutional Court serves as the Yüce Divan to judge officials including the President, Ministers, Parliament Speaker, high court members, and military commanders. The Yargıtay Public Prosecutor acts as the prosecutor during these trials.
Introduced in 2010, individuals can apply to the Constitutional Court if their fundamental rights covered by the European Convention on Human Rights are violated by a public power, provided all ordinary legal remedies have been exhausted within 30 days.
Covers abstract norm control (cancellation lawsuits) and concrete norm control (objection path). Cancellation lawsuits regarding unconstitutionality must be filed within specific timeframes (10 days for constitutional amendments/laws, 60 days for others).