Official Gazette

The Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye is the official publication medium through which laws, presidential decrees, regulations, notices, and numerous other provisions concerning the functioning of the state are published and enter into force. Its content and the procedures and principles governing its publication are determined by the Presidential Decree No. 10 dated 15 July 2018 and the Regulation on the Official Gazette issued by Presidential Decision No. 358 dated 22 November 2018. The purpose of the Official Gazette is to establish the rules regarding the publication, content, and structure of the Republic of Türkiye and its announcements.

Historical Development

The origins of the Official Gazette trace back to the Ottoman Empire, when the newspaper "Takvim-i Vekayi," under the leadership of Sultan Mahmud II and managed by historian Esat Efendi, began weekly publication on 11 November 1831.

The official gazette of the new state was established by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), convened in Ankara during the War of Independence, on 7 October 1920. This date is recognized as the founding date of the gazette. The first issue was published approximately four months later, on 7 February 1921, under the name "Cerîde-i Resmiyye." The gazette's name was changed to "Resmî Cerîde" on 10 September 1923 and then to "T.C. Resmî Gazete" with issue No. 763 dated 17 December 1927, under which name it has continued to be published.

The frequency of publication has changed over time. The first 16 issues were published weekly. Issues 19, 20, and 21 were published every Monday. Due to wartime conditions, no issues were published between 18 July 1921 and 10 September 1923, a period of more than two years. During this time, laws numbered from 134 to 338 entered into force without being published in the Official Gazette. After 1923, changes were made to the publication schedule; at one point it was announced as "published three times a week," but irregularities persisted. Starting 7 June 1925, an average of twenty issues per month were published.

Following the Alphabet Reform, publication began using the new Turkish alphabet starting with issue No. 1054 dated 1 December 1928. From 1929 onward, the gazette began to be published daily, except on Sundays, national holidays, and general holidays. A change on 21 June 1970 included Sundays as publication days. Since that date, the Official Gazette has been published every day, including Sundays, except on national holidays and general holidays.

Legal Framework and Publishing Authority

The current legal framework governing the publication of the Official Gazette consists of Presidential Decree No. 10 on the Official Gazette and the Regulation on the Official Gazette prepared under this decree. These regulations define the publication, content, structure, announcements, and other procedures and principles of the gazette.

Historically, the publication function was assigned to the "Müdevvenat Müdüriyeti," which was later incorporated into the Office of the Prime Minister. Over time, the name of this unit changed to "Neşriyat Müdürlüğü," then "Neşriyat ve Müdevvenat Dairesi," followed by "Neşriyat ve Müdevvenat Umum Müdürlüğü," and finally "General Directorate of Legislation Development and Publication." Today, the Official Gazette is published online by the General Directorate of Law and Legislation of the Presidency.

Content and Structure

The Official Gazette consists of the following sections: "Legislation," "Executive and Administration," "Judiciary," and "Announcements." The gazette does not appear on days when no content from these sections is to be published.

The main provisions published in the Official Gazette include:

• Laws.
• The Internal Regulations of the TBMM and decisions of the TBMM Presidency Board requested for publication.
• International treaties and agreements.
• Presidential decrees and decisions and circulars deemed suitable for publication by the President.
• Court decisions specified in special laws.
• Regulations specified in relevant laws.
• Procedures concerning the appointment, dismissal, or resignation of the Vice President of the Republic and ministers.
• Procedures for delegation of presidential authority.
• Decisions regarding changes in the affiliation, relation, or connection of institutions.
• Decisions on the election of members to high judicial bodies.
• Appointments and dismissals made by the President and termination of appointments.
• Decisions concerning border demarcation, changes in administrative affiliation, establishment of municipalities, and renaming of places.
• Other procedures specified in special laws or presidential decrees for publication, and matters deemed necessary for publication by the President.

In addition, announcements determined by law, presidential decrees, or presidential decisions, including public sector recruitment announcements and other institutional announcements deemed suitable for publication by the General Directorate, are also published in the Official Gazette.

Publication Process and Access

The Official Gazette is published online by the Presidency. Access to the online version of the Official Gazette is free of charge. When necessary, printed copies may also be produced in required quantities. Printed copies have the same content and legal validity as the online version. Printed copies are also produced for archival purposes. Access to all issues since the first issue dated 7 February 1921 is available through the official website.

The gazette is published every day except on days designated as national holidays and general holidays under the Law on National Holidays and General Holidays. However, it may also be published on national holidays and general holidays when required by service needs. In cases of urgent or compulsory circumstances, multiple issues of the Official Gazette bearing the same number and marked "Mükerrer" may be published on the same day.

Review of Provisions and Legal Validity

Draft regulations and notices prepared by ministries and public institutions for publication in the Official Gazette are reviewed for compliance with the Constitution, laws, presidential decrees, general legal principles, and development plans. Regulations prepared by universities and professional organizations with public institution status are also examined for compliance with the Constitution and legislation. Drafts found to be non-compliant or contrary to law are returned to the relevant institution.

If an error originating from an institution is identified in legislation, decisions, or announcements published in the Official Gazette, a correction text is submitted by the relevant institution and published. Errors arising from the publication process are corrected ex officio and republished by the General Directorate. Regulations such as laws, presidential decrees, and regulations enter into force on the day they are published in the Official Gazette, unless a different effective date is specified in the text. In the event of any discrepancy between the text in the Legislation Information System and the text published in the Official Gazette, the version published in the Official Gazette shall prevail.