The Impact of the Civil and Military Harmony in the Constitution Making Policy: 1971 – 1973 Constitutional Amendments

Making a constitution in the transition to democracy provides serious opportunities in the context of creating political institutions and the consolidation of democracy. The ideal constitution-making policy must be based on social consensus and on the representation of all layers of society. Turkey’s constitution-making experience is seen as a series of missed opportunities in terms of a broad social consensus and creation of political institutions. The 1961 and 1982 Constitutions which were made after the transition to multi-party system had been implemented as results of military coups and the imposition of military elites; far from consensus. Although the constitutional amendments of 1971 and 1973 were problematic in the context of democracy they reflect the harmony of civilian authorities and military forces and were separate from the others. This study aims to evaluate the 1971 and 1973 constitutional amendments with regards to the harmony of civil authorities and military elites