BY-LAW OF THE JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY
(with Amendments Effected in 2012)
1)ABBREVIATIONS
Party:Justice and Development Party
By-law:By-law of the Justice and Development Party
AGCD :AK PARTİ’S Grand Congress Decision
AFCD : AK PARTİ Founders’ Committee Decision
LoPP:Law on Political Parties
Art. :Article
p. :Paragraph
CEC:Central Executive Committee
CDAC:Central Decision-Making and AdministrativeCommittee
2) IN-PARTY REGULATIONS WHICH HAVE AMENDED THE BY-LAW
A)GRAND CONGRESS DECISIONS
1)Decision adopted by the Grand Congress of AK Parti on 03.10.2009
2)Decision adopted by the Grand Congress of AK Parti on 11.11.2006
3)Decision adopted by the Grand Congress of AK Parti on 12.10.2003
4) Decision adopted by the Grands Congress of AK Parti on 30.09.2012
B)DECISIONS OF THE FOUNDERS’ COMMITTEE
1)Decision adopted by the Founders’ Committee of AK Parti on 12.01.2002
2)Decision adopted by the Founders’ Committee of AK Parti on 05.05.2002
3)Decision adopted by the Founders’ Committee of AK Parti on 01.02.2003
4)Decision adopted by the Founders’ Committee of AK Parti on 03.10.2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Article 1. Title of the Party
Article 2. Basis of the Formation
Article 3. Short Name, Headquarters and Emblem of the Party
Article 4. Fundamental Objectives
Article 5. Principles of Duty
CHAPTER TWO
PARTY MEMBERSHIP (LoPP, Art. 6, 11, 12)
Article 6. Eligibility for Being a Member of the Party
Article 7. Application for Membership; and Required Documentation
Article 8. Resolution of Membership Applications; Membership Registration Formalities
Article 9. Readmission of Former Members to the Party
Article 10. Eligibility of Citizens Who are Permanently Domiciled Abroad
Article 11. Authorization of the Headquarters to Register Members
Article 12. Member Identity Certificates
Article 13. Termination of Membership
Article 14. Rights and Obligations of Members
Article 15. Members Registry of the Headquarters
CHAPTER THREE
SECTION ONE
ORGANIZATION OF THE PARTY (LoPP, Art. 7)
Article 16. Organization
Article 17. Organizational Grades (LoPP, Art. 7)
Article 18. Organizational Bodies
18.1. Town Organization
a) Town Congress
b) Town Chairman
c) Town Administrative Committee
d) Town Executive Committee
18.2. District Organization
a) District Congress
b) District Chairman
c) District Administrative Committee
d) District Executive Committee
18.3. City Organization
a) City Congress
b) City Chairman
c) City Administrative Committee
d) City Executive Committee
18.4. Headquarters Organization
a) Grand Congress
b) Chairman
c) Central Decision and Administrative Committee(CDAC)
d) Central Executive Committee (CEC)
18.5. Subsidiaries
a) Women Branches
b) Youth Branches
c) Other Subsidiaries
18.6. Groups
a) Party’s TBMM Group
b) Provincial Assembly Groups
c) Municipal Assembly Groups
Article 19. Representatives and Committees in Avenues, Villages, Ballot Box Zones, and Election Regions
Article 20. Representative Offices Abroad (LoPP, Art. 7, 31)
SECTION TWO
FORMATION, DUTIES, AND AUTHORITIES OF ORGANIZATIONAL BODIES
PART ONE
TOWN ORGANIZATION (LoPP, Art. 7/1, 20)
Article 21. Town Congress (LoPP, Art. 7/3)
Article 22. Delegates of Town Congress (LoPP, Art. 19, Additional Art. 2)
Article 23. Election of Delegates for Town Congress; Approval of Delegate Listings
Article 24. Town Chairman
Article 25. Town Administrative Committee
Article 26. Duties and Authorizations of Town Administrative Committee
Article 27. Town Executive Committee
PART TWO
DISTRICT ORGANIZATION (LoPP, Art. 20,21)
Article 28. District Congress
Article 29. Delegates of District Congress
Article 30. Election of Delegates for District Congress
Article 31. District Chairman
Article 32. District Administrative Committee
Article 33. District Executive Committee
PART THREE
CITY ORGANIZATION (LoPP, Art. 19 to 21)
Article 34. City Congress
Article 35. Delegates of City Congress
Article 36. City Chairman
Article 37. City Administrative Committee
Article 38. City Executive Committee
PART FOUR
COMMON PROVISIONS FOR DISTRICT AND CITY CONGRESSES
Article 39. Timing of Ordinary Congress; and Delegates to be Elected
Article 40. Authorization to Fix Agenda of Congress
Article 41. Approval and Announcement of the List of Congress Delegates by Election Committee (LoPP, Art. 21)
Article 42. Announcement of District and City Congresses
Article 43. Meeting and Decision Quorums for Congress
Article 44. Opening of Congress; Meeting Council; and Duties and Authorities of Meeting Council
Article 45. Duties and Authorizations of Congress
Article 46. Elections to be Held at District and City Congresses; Nominations
Article 47. Mode of Voting at Congress
Article 48. Objections Raised against Elections (LoPP, Art. 21/10)
Article 49. Sending of Results and Minutes of Congress to Higher Bodies
Article 50. Extraordinary Meetings of District and City Congresses
Article 51. Representation of a Lower Grade at a Congress of Higher Grade
PART FIVE
COMMON PROVISIONS REGARDING DISTRICT AND CITY ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES
Article 52. Founder Administrative Committees
Article 53. Meeting and Decision Quorums for Administrative Committees
Article 54. Representation of the Party at Organizational Grades
Article 55. Duties and Authorizations of District and City Administrative Committees
Article 56. Cases when a Board Member is Deemed to have beenresigned
Article 57. Vacancies in Seats of Chairmen and Members of Administrative Committees
Article 58. Reasons of Dismissal
Article 59. Principles and Methods of Dismissal
Article 60. Meetings of Temporary Committees; and Extraordinary Congress Meetings (LoPP, Art. 19/5, 20/8)
PART SIX
HEADQUARTERS ORGANIZATION (LoPP, Art. 13)
A. GRAND CONGRESS (LoPP, Art. 14)
Article 61. Grand Congress; its Duties and Authorizations (LoPP, Art. 14/5)
Article 62. Delegates of the Grand Congress
62.1. Elected Delegates of the Grand Congress
62.2. Natural Delegates of the Grand Congress (LoPP, Art. 14/3)
62.3. Honorary Members of the Grand Congress
Article 63. Authorization and Time to Call the Grand Congress for Ordinary Meeting
Article 64. Agenda of the Grand Congress; and Announcement of Delegate Listings
Article 65. Other Provisions of the By-laws Applicable for the Grand Congress
Article 66. Opening Speech of the General Chairman; Formation of a Commission
Article 67. Changes in Agenda; and Discussions to be Held at Congress (LoPP, Art. 14/ Last Paragraph)
Article 68. Elections to be held at the Grand Congress (LoPP, Art. 21)
Article 69. Nominations and Preparation for Elections to be Held at the Grand Congress
Article 70. Extraordinary Meetings of the Grand Congress (LoPP, Art. 14/6)
Article 71. Minutes of the Grand Congress
Article 72. Objections against Elections Held at the Grand Congress
B. CENTRAL DECISION AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE (CDAC) (LoPP, Art. 16)
Article 73. Formation andPrinciples of Operation of the CDAC
Article 74. Duties and Authorizations of the CDAC
C. CHAIRMAN (LoPP, Art. 15)
Article 75. Requirements of Nomination for the Seat of Chairman
Article 76. Election and Term in Office of Chairman
Article 77. Duties and Authorizations of Chairman
Article 78. Vacancy in the Seat of Chairman (LoPP, Art. 15/ Last Paragraph)
D. CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (CEC) (LoPP, Art. 15/5,16)
Article 79. Principles of Formation and Operation of the Central Executive Committee
Article 80. Duties and Authorizations of the Central Executive Committee
Article 81. Division of Duties among Members of the Central Executive Committee Vice Chairman
Article 82. Duties and Authorizations of Members of the Central Executive Committee
82.1. Duties and Authorizations of the Assistant General Chairmen
82.2. Vice Chairman in charge of Financial and Administrative Affairs
82.3. General Secretary
PART SEVEN
SUBSIDIARIES
A- WOMEN AND YOUTH BRANCHES (LoPP, Art. 7)
Article 83. Membership of Women and Youth Branches
83.1. Membership of Women Branches
83.2. Membership of Youth Branches
83.3. Registry for Members of Women and Youth Branches
Article 84. Organizational Bodies of Women and Youth Branches
84.1. Organizational Bodies of Women & Youth Branches at Town Level
a) Town Congress of Women & Youth Branches
b) Town Chairman of Women & Youth Branches
c) Town Administrative Committee of Women & Youth Branches
d) Town Executive Committee of Women & Youth Branches
84.2. Organizational Bodies of Women & Youth Branches at District Level
a) District Congress of Women & Youth Branches
b) District Chairman of Women & Youth Branches
c) District Administrative Committee of Women & Youth Branches
d) District Executive Committee of Women & Youth Branches
84.3. Organizational Bodies of Women & Youth Branches at City Level
a) City Congress of Women & Youth Branches
b) City Chairman of Women & Youth Branches
c) City Administrative Committee of Women & Youth Branches
d) City Executive Committee of Women & Youth Branches
84.4. Organizational Bodies of Women & Youth Branches at the Headquarters
a) Grand Congress of Women & Youth Branches
b) Chairman of Women & Youth Branches at the Head Office
c) Central Decision and Administrative Committee of Women & Youth Branches
d) Central Executive Committee of Women & Youth Branches
Article 85. Common Provisions regarding Formation of Bodies of Women & Youth Branches; Delegates; and Congresses Held by Delegates
Article 86. Duties and Authorizations of Chairmen and Members of Grade Bodies of Women & Youth Branches
Article 87. Dismissal of Women & Youth Branches
B. OTHER SUBSIDIARIES (LoPP, Art. 7)
Article 88. Other Auxiliary Units and Subsidiaries of the Party’s Organization
PART EIGHT
PARTY GROUPS
A. THE PARTY’S TBMM GROUP (LoPP, Art. 22)
Article 89. Formation of the Party’s TBMM Group
Article 90. Chairman, Deputy Chairmen, and Administrative Committee of the Group
Article 91. Duties of the Group’s Deputy Chairmen and the Group Administration
Article 92. Duties of the Group Members
Article 93. Issues Requiring Secret Ballot at the Group (LoPP, Art. 27)
Article 94. Internal Regulations of the Party’s TBMM Group (LoPP, Art. 23)
B. PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY AND MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY GROUPS
Article 95. Provincial Assembly Groups
Article 96. Municipal Assembly Groups
Article 97. Common Provisions regarding Provincial Assembly Groups and Municipal Assembly Groups
CHAPTER FOUR
INTRA-PARTY DEMOCRACY ARBITRATION COMMITTEE
Article 98. Arbitration for Intra-party Democracy
Article 99. Formation of Intra-party Democracy Arbitration Committees
Article 100. Eligibility for Committee Memberships; and Assurances for Membership
Article 101. Duties of Arbitration Committees
Article 102. Referral of Disputes to Arbitration Committees; Nature of Arbitral Awards
CHAPTER FIVE
SECTION ONE
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEES OF THE PARTY (LoPP, Art. 17, 19/7, 25, 53 to 59)
Article 103. Disciplinary Committees of the Party
103.1. Provincial Disciplinary Committees
103.2. Central Disciplinary Committee
103.3. Disciplinary Committee in Charge of the Party’s TBMM Group
103.4. Joint Disciplinary Committee
SECTION TWO
PART ONE
Provincial Disciplinary Committees (LoPP, Art. 19/7)
Article 104. Formation of Provincial Disciplinary Committees
Article 105. Affairs to be Handled by Provincial Disciplinary Committees
PART TWO
CENTRAL DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE (LoPP, Art. 17)
Article 106. Formation of the Central Disciplinary Committee
Article 107. Matters and Issues to be Handled by the Central Disciplinary Committee
107.1. Matters and Issues to be Handled by the Central Disciplinary Committee as the First Resort
107.2. Matters and Issues to be Handled by the Central Disciplinary Committee as the Second Resort
PART THREE
GROUP DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE (LoPP, Art. 25)
Article 108. Formation of the Disciplinary Committee in Charge of the Party’s TBMM Group
Article 109. Matters and Issues to be Handled by the Disciplinary Committee in Charge of the Party’s TBMM Group
PART FOUR
JOINT DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE (LoPP, Art. 25/2)
Article 110. Formation, Duties and Authorizations of the Joint Disciplinary Committee
PART FIVE
JOINT PROVISIONS
Article 111. Common Provisions regarding Disciplinary Committees(LoPP, Art. 56)
Article 112. Authorization to refer Members to Disciplinary Committees
SECTION THREE
PART ONE
DISCIPLINARY OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENTS ( LoPP, Art. 53/1)
Article 113. Disciplinary Punishments Applied at the Party
Article 114. Warnings, and Circumstances Requiring Imposition of a Warning
Article 115. Reprimands, and Circumstances Requiring Imposition of a Reprimand
Article 116. Punishment for Temporary Dismissal from the Party and the Group, and Circumstances Requiring This Punishment
Article 117. Punishment for Permanent Dismissal from the Party and the Group, and Circumstances Requiring This Punishment
PART TWO
OTHER PROVISIONS REGARDING DISCIPLINARY OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENTS
Article 118. Statue of Limitation/Prescription for Disciplinary Offences
Article 119. Referral to Disciplinary Committee with Cautionary Attachment (LoPP, Art. 59)
Article 120. Right to Appeal Disciplinary Punishments before Judicial Bodies (LoPP, Art. 57)
Article 121. Authorization to Pardon Disciplinary Punishments (LoPP, Art. 58)
CHAPTER SIX
ELECTIONS AND CANDIDATES ( LoPP, Art. 36 to 52)
SECTION ONE
PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS
Article 122. Power of Decision about Elections
SECTION TWO
NOMINATION FORMALITIES FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Article 123. Applications for Nomination to Deputy; Preliminary Reviews
Article 124. Methods of Identification and Ranking of Candidates
124.1. Identification and Ranking of Candidates through Preliminary Elections
124.2. Identification and Ranking of Candidates through Organizational Roll Calls
124.3. Identification and Ranking of through Central Roll Calls
Article 125. Filling of Vacancies in Candidate Listings
Article 126. Nominations from Quota for Parliamentary Elections (LoPP, Art. 36/ Last Paragraph)
SECTION THREE
NOMINATION FORMALITIES FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS (LoPP, Art. 52)
Article 127. Nominations and Preliminary Reviews held for Local Elections
Article 128. Method of Determination and Ranking of Candidates for Local Elections
Article 129. Preliminary Elections, and Organizational and Central Roll Calls Held for Local Elections
SECTION FOUR
COMMON PROVISIONS
Article 130. Candidateship for Nomination for Seats of Lower Grade OrganizationalAdministrators (LoPP, Art. 40/4)
Article 131. Nomination Applications by Individuals not Registered with the Party
Article 132. Re-nomination of Individuals Who were Formerly Elected as the Party’s Nominees
Article 133. The Regulation on Election Affairs
CHAPTER SEVEN
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
SECTION ONE
REVENUES OF THE PARTY
Article 134. Revenues of the Party (LoPP, Art. 61)
134.1. Admission and Membership Dues (LoPP, Art. 62)
134.2. Deputyship Dues (LoPP, Art. 63)
134.3. Revenues to be Derived from the Sale of Promotional Items And Publications (LoPP, Art. 65)
134.4. Revenues to be Derived from Events
134.5. Special Dues to be Collected from Candidates for Nomination (LoPP, Art. 64)
134.6. Revenues to be Derived from Assets
134.7. Donations (LoPP, Art. 66)
134.8. Treasury Grants
Article 135. Principles of Revenue Supply (LoPP, Art. 69)
SECTION TWO
EXPENDITURES OF THE PARTY
Article 136. The Method to be Followed for Making Expenditures(LoPP, Art. 70)
Article 137. Liability for Custody and Expenditures (LoPP, Art. 71)
SECTION THREE
BUDGET AND FINAL ACCOUNT (LoPP, Art. 73)
Article 138. Preparation and Approval of Budget and Final Account
138.1. Preparation and Approval of Budget
138.2. Preparation and Approval of Final Account
138.3. Notification of Final Account
CHAPTER EIGHT
AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS
Article 139. Objectives of Inspections and Audits
Article 140. Authorization to Audit and the Duties
CHAPTER NINE
ADVISORY COUNCILS AND SUBSIDIARIES
SECTION ONE
THE PARTY’S ADVISORY COUNCIL, CONSULTANTS AND SUBSIDIARIES
Article 141. Advisory Council of the Party
Article 142. Members of the Party’s Advisory Council
Article 143. Advisory Councils of Cities and Districts
143.1. Members of a City Advisory Council
143.2. Members of a District Advisory Council
Article 144. Advisory Councils of Subsidiaries
Article 145. Consultants of the General Chairman
SECTION TWO
SUBSIDIARIES
Article 146. Research Committees, Commissions, and Work Spaces
Article 147. Offices and Centres
CHAPTER TEN
GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
Article 148. Authorization for Deciding to Form a Government (LoPP, Art. 28)
Article 149. Government Membership of CEC Members
Article 150. Votes of Confidence Held within the Party about Ministers from the Party
CHAPTER ELEVEN
BOOKS OF THE PARTY
Article 151. Books of the Party (LoPP, Art. 60)
151.1. Members Registration Book
151.2. Decision Book
151.3. Registration Book for Incoming and Outgoing Documents
151.4. Book for Incomes and Expenses
151.5. Inventory Book
CHAPTER TWELVE
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Article 152. Transfer of Authorizations and Duties
Article 153. Authorization to Shorten Durations Specified in By-laws
Article 154. Limits of Authorization; Incompatible and Conflicting Positions
Article 155. Intra-party Referendums
Article 156. Public Relations Offices of Deputies
Article 157. Notification of People Taking Charge in Bodies to Relevant Authorities(LoPP, Art. 33)
Article 158. Termination of the Party’s Legal Entity (LoPP, Art. 109,110)
Article 159. Changes in By-laws and Program (LoPP, Art. 14)
Article 160. Internal Regulations of the Party
Article 161. Initial formation of Central Bodies of the Party
Article 162. Members of the Founders Committee (LoPP, Art. 14/8)
Temporary Article 1. Duties and Authorizations of the Founders Committee
Temporary Article 2. Number of Members of Organizational Bodies at their Initial Formations
Temporary Article 3. Method of Operation for the Founders Committee
Temporary Article 4. Status of Founder Members Grade of Bodies as Delegates
Temporary Article 5. Authorization to Admit Members at the Time of Formation
Temporary Article 6. Initial Formation of Women and Youth Branches
Article 163. Implementations onMatters not Covered by This By-law
Article 164. Execution
Article 165. Validity
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Title of the Party
Article 1. The title of the Party, which is incorporated in accordance with the provisions of this By-law, isJUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY.
Basis of the Formation
Article 2. JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY is a political entity which is hereby constituted for the purpose of organizing and operating in accordance with the Party’s By-law and Program within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey; applicable international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and etc., which have been approved by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; the Law on Political Parties; election laws; and other pertinent laws and regulations.
Short Name, Headquarters and Emblem of the Party
Article 3. Short name of the Party is “AK PARTİ”.
Headquarters of the Party is located inCeyhun Atıf Kansu Avenue, No:202, Balgat – Ankara. (Additional Sentence: AFCD dated 03.10.2009) The new headquarters of the Party is located inSöğütözü Avenue, No.6, Çankaya – Ankara.
Emblem (special sign) of AK PARTİ is a BULB of yellow and black colors.
Fundamental Objectives
Article 4.
4.1.AK PARTİ believes that the most important administrative acquisition of Turkish People is the Republic, and that sovereignty rests unconditionally with the Nation. AK PARTİ acknowledges that the nations will is the unique determining power. AK PARTİ holds that the most supreme power which has to be regarded by entities and individuals using sovereignty on behalf of the Nation is the principle of supremacy of law. AK PARTİ favors intelligence, science, and experience as its guiding elements. AK PARTİ considers the elements of nations will, supremacy of law, intelligence, science, experience, democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, and ethics as the foundations of its political administration.
4.2.AK PARTİ holds that Turkish Nation is indivisible with its country and state. AK PARTİ acknowledges, as the basis of political life, the principle of operating in accordance with the norms described in Article 2 above as well as general consents for the purpose of reaching and even exceeding the level of contemporary civilizations as indicated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, through preservation of our historical values.