Conventional Long Form Name of country: Republic of Turkey
Capital City: Ankara Type of Government: republican parliamentary democracy Date of Independence: October 29 1923 National Holidays: Republic Day, 29 October (1923) Chief of state: President Abdullah GUL (since 28 August 2007) Head of Government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 14 March 2003) Executive branch: This branch includes the chief of state and head of government. The cabinet includes the council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister. The president is elected directly for a five year term and the prime minister is appointed by the president from among member of the parliament. Legislative branch: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held on 12 June 2011 (next to be held by June 2015). Judicial branch: highest court(s): Constitutional Court (consists of 17 members); Supreme Court of Appeals organized into 15 divisions with 38 civil and criminal chambers and consisting of 250 high judges and 440 rapporteur judges)judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president from among candidates submitted by plenary assemblies of other courts, the Higher Education Council, senior government administrators, and lawyers; judges appointed for 12-year, non-renewable terms and with mandatory retirement at age 65; Supreme Court of Appeals judges appointed by the Supreme Council of Judges and Public Prosecutors; judge tenure NA. subordinate courts: Council of State (Danistay); Court of Accounts (Sayistay); Military High Court of Appeals; Military High Administrative Court Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Name of their ambassador to the U.S.: Ambassador Namik TAN (since 18 February 2010) Location of their embassy in the U.S.: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Locations of their consultants in the U.S.: Chicago, Houston, New York, Newton (MA) Name of the U.S. ambassador to them: Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jr. (since 1 January 2011) Location of the U.S. embassy there: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara Locations of U.S. consultants there: Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir name of their representative to U.N.: Yasar Halit Çevik Flag: red with a vertical white crescent moon (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening; the flag colors and designs closely resemble those on the banner of the Ottoman Empire, which preceded modern-day Turkey; the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for the Turks, as well as being traditional symbols of Islam; according to legend, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors National symbols: star and crescent Click here to hear their national anthem "Istiklal Marsi" |