Supreme Military Council (YAŞ)

Military organization and decision-making processes have been a fundamental element in the historical continuity of states and the formulation of security policies. Within Turkish military culture, the tradition of the “Military Council” has a deep-rooted history extending from the earliest Turkic states of Central Asia through the Anatolian Seljuk State and the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Türkiye. This tradition has gone beyond merely serving as a consultative body for military matters, assuming critical functions such as the reorganization and modernization of the state’s military structure and the determination of security policies.

In the Ottoman Empire, this structure was institutionalized under the name Dâr-ı Şûrâ-yı Askerî during the reign of Mahmud II and was subsequently restructured through various regulations and decrees during the Tanzimat and Second Constitutional periods, being abolished and reestablished at different times. After the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, it was reorganized in 1925 under Law No. 636 as the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) and gradually became one of the highest advisory and decision-making bodies of the modern Turkish Armed Forces.

History and Founding Law (Law No. 636)

The Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) is a statutory high decision-making body in the Republic of Türkiye responsible for managing military personnel, promotions, retirements, and key military organizational decisions. Established by Law No. 636, the Council was originally organized to operate under the central government during peacetime.

Law No. 636 on the Supreme Military Council was adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye on 22 April 1925, published in the Official Gazette on 29 April 1925, and entered into force on the same date. Article 1 of the law detailed the Council’s areas of responsibility, which include:

• Determining the principles of promotion and commendation within the Republic’s army composed of the Land, Naval and Air Forces,
• Deciding on appointments, transfers and retirements of senior military personnel such as division and corps commanders,
• Reviewing the budgets of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of the Navy,
• Establishing the fundamental principles of military organization for peacetime and wartime,
• Planning major military installations and defense industry investments,
• Determining the technical specifications of new warships and decisions regarding the decommissioning of existing vessels,
• Defining the principles of military education and training,
• Making strategic decisions for the defense of the country.

According to Article 2 of the law, the President of the Republic was the natural chairman of the YAŞ. In the President’s absence, the Prime Minister, followed by the Minister of National Defense or the Minister of the Navy, and in their absence, the Chief of the General Staff, would preside over meetings.

Organizational Structure

According to Article 3 of Law No. 636, the regular members of the Supreme Military Council consisted of:

• The Minister of National Defense,
• The Minister of the Navy (Minister of Maritime Affairs),
• The Chief of the General Staff,
• Army Inspectors,
• The Commander of the Navy,
• Four elected active-duty military members.

This structure formed a military advisory and decision-making body comprising a total of eleven members.

Meetings and Working Procedures

According to Article 4 of the law, the Supreme Military Council convened regularly each year in mid-December. Additionally, extraordinary meetings could be called upon the request of the President of the Republic, the Chief of the General Staff, or the Minister of National Defense.

Article 6 stipulated that a meeting of the YAŞ could be held only if at least five members were present. Absent members could submit their votes in writing. The proceedings were managed and administered by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff.

First Meeting and YAŞ Reforms Over the Years

According to Republic archives and contemporary press sources, the Supreme Military Council held its first meeting on 28 December 1925. The meeting was chaired by President Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paşa, with Prime Minister İsmet Paşa (İnönü), the Chief of the General Staff and other members in attendance. Discussions included the development of the Republic’s army, military strategy and the modernization of the navy, as well as the Musul Issue, a major foreign policy concern of the period. Subsequently, structural changes were made to the Military Council over the years.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk at a Supreme Military Council Meeting, Ankara, 28 December 1925 - (Photographs of Atatürk Album p.123, MSB)

1. 1926 Reform: In 1926, a reform was enacted whereby the Chief of the General Staff would chair the Council. The number and composition of permanent members were also restructured to include the Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Maritime Affairs, the Chief of the General Staff, three Army Inspectors, the Commander of the Navy and four army/corps commanders, forming an 11-member body.

2. 1933 and 1945 Reforms: In 1933, the meeting date was changed from December to early February. In 1945, with Law No. 4764, the Commander of the Air Force was admitted as a member, increasing the number of permanent members to twelve.

3. Transition to Multi-Party Politics and the 1949 Reform: During the transition to multi-party politics (1946–1950), the natural chairmanship of the Military Council was transferred from the President of the Republic to the Prime Minister. The permanent membership structure was expanded to include the Minister of National Defense, the Chief of the General Staff, the Commanders of the Land, Air and Naval Forces, Army Inspectors and successful commanders from peacetime and wartime, forming a 15-member body.

4. Law No. 1612 on the Supreme Military Council: Law No. 1612 on the Supreme Military Council, adopted on 26 July 1972, established the legal framework for the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) as the highest decision-making body of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), defining its establishment, duties and operating principles. This reform replaced Law No. 636 of 1925, which was repealed, and initiated a significant restructuring process in military organization and civil-military relations.

Historical Background

The memorandum issued by the Turkish Armed Forces command on 12 March 1971 to the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the Grand National Assembly triggered profound changes in the country’s political and administrative structure. Although the Assembly remained open, de facto governance passed under military control, and multi-party political life was effectively suspended for two years. One of the institutional reforms during this period was the revision of the Supreme Military Council Law. Law No. 636 was repealed and replaced by the new Law No. 1612, adopted in 1972.

Content of the Law

Law No. 1612 on the Supreme Military Council consists of twelve articles. The law comprehensively regulates the Council’s establishment, membership, duties, meeting procedures and governance principles. Key provisions can be summarized as follows:

• Establishment and Chairmanship: The Prime Minister is the chairman of the Supreme Military Council. In the Prime Minister’s absence, the Chief of the General Staff assumes the chairmanship.
• Membership: The law explicitly lists members: the Prime Minister, the Chief of the General Staff, the Minister of National Defense, the Service Commanders, the General Secretary of the National Security Council, the Commander of the Navy, certain generals and lieutenant generals, and, when necessary, the Commander of the Gendarmerie. Civilian members were not included.
• Scope of Responsibilities: The authority of the Supreme Military Council was confined within the framework of the “military strategic concept.”
• Meeting Schedule: Meeting dates previously set in December or February under Law No. 636 were moved to February and August under Law No. 1612; in 1979, they were further adjusted to August and November.
• Voting and Decision-Making Procedures: Decisions are made by secret ballot, based on majority voting.
• Secretariat: The Deputy Chief of the General Staff serves as the Council’s Secretary-General.
• Confidentiality: Meetings are held in confidence; junior members may not attend meetings concerning promotions and retirements.
• Working Procedures: Operational procedures are determined by internal regulations.

Evolution of the Law

Since its enactment in 1972, Law No. 1612 has undergone various amendments during different periods of political and military intervention:

1. 1979 Amendment: In 1979, the General Secretary of the National Security Council was removed from membership and meeting dates were shifted to August and November. Additionally, restrictions on the voting rights of the Deputy Chief of the General Staff were lifted.

2. Post-12 September 1980 Coup Reform: After the military coup of 12 September 1980, legislative and executive powers were transferred to the National Security Council. The Council’s membership was restructured to include the Head of State, the Chief of the General Staff and members of the National Security Council. In 1983, a new regulation replaced the term “Head of State” with “President of the Republic.” The meeting date was also fixed at the beginning of August.

Regulation on the Supreme Military Council (28 May 2017)

The Regulation on the Supreme Military Council is the regulatory framework that defines the establishment, duties and operational principles of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) in the Republic of Türkiye, enacted as part of the constitutional and institutional reforms following the attempted coup of 15 July 2016. The regulation issued on 28 May 2017 updated the institution’s working procedures, particularly reshaping the institutional framework governing civil-military relations and promotion-retirement processes.

History and Background

Following the attempted coup of 15 July 2016 in Türkiye, comprehensive changes to state institutions and security structures became a priority. In this context, Law No. 6771, adopted on 11 February 2017, amended the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye to expand the powers of the President and restructure the executive branch. The constitutional amendments approved by referendum on 16 April 2017 further necessitated the reorganization of executive and security bureaucracy. Accordingly, the regulation governing the operation and duties of the Supreme Military Council entered into force on 28 May 2017.

Structure and Content of the Regulation

The regulation consists of five sections and nineteen articles, regulating the preparatory activities, management, working and decision-making procedures, secretariat services and duties of the Supreme Military Council. It applies to TSK personnel of the rank of general, admiral and colonel subject to promotion, retirement due to lack of position or extension of service term, as well as personnel assigned to the Council and its members.

Members and Duties of the Supreme Military Council

Section 2 of the regulation outlines the members and duties of the Council. The Prime Minister is the chairman of the Supreme Military Council. Members include the Chief of the General Staff, Deputy Prime Ministers, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of National Defense and the Service Commanders. The Council’s duties include:

• Deciding on promotions of colonels to general and admiral ranks and generals to higher ranks,
• Deciding on the extension of service term for generals and admirals,
• Deciding on the retirement of generals, admirals and colonels due to lack of position and on the extension of service term for colonels due to operational needs.

Preparation and Meeting Procedures

Section 3 of the regulation details preparatory activities prior to Council meetings, including the location and timing of meetings, agenda determination, preparations for promotions, service extensions and retirements, and the announcement of meetings.

Section 4 addresses the conduct of meetings. It stipulates that promotion procedures for generals, admirals and colonels begin in October, that Council decisions require the approval of the President of the Republic to be finalized, and that the Council Secretariat maintains the Supreme Military Council Honor Book during meetings.

Presidential Decree on the Establishment and Duties of the Supreme Military Council (15 July 2018)

Presidential Decree No. 8 dated 15 July 2018 significantly altered the structure and functioning of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) following Türkiye’s transition to the Presidential System of Government. The decree transferred the chairmanship of the YAŞ to the President of the Republic, introduced new arrangements for membership and secretariat functions, and redefined the confidentiality and operational procedures of decisions.

History and General Framework

The use of Decrees with the Force of Law (KHK) has existed in Turkish law since 1971 but expanded significantly after the attempted coup of 15 July 2016. The Presidential System of Government was formally implemented following the elections of 24 June 2018. On 15 July 2018, Presidential Decree No. 8 was published, reorganizing the structure and authority of the YAŞ accordingly.

Establishment, Membership and Chairmanship

The President of the Republic is the natural chairman of the YAŞ. Members include the Vice Presidents of the Republic, the Ministers of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Treasury and Finance, National Education, National Defense, the Chief of the General Staff and the Service Commanders. In the President’s absence, a designated vice president chairs the meetings.

Duties and Authorities

The duties of the YAŞ include determining the strategic military concept and reviewing appointments, promotions and disciplinary actions of military personnel. Decisions are kept confidential, and the Ministry of National Defense is responsible for their disclosure.

Meeting Schedule and Secretariat Services

The YAŞ meets at least once a year. The date and location of meetings are determined by the Vice President of the Republic. Secretariat services are provided by the General Directorate of Personnel of the Ministry of National Defense.

Working Procedures, Regulation and Implementation

Pursuant to Article 9 of the decree, the working procedures of the YAŞ are regulated by a regulation issued by the Presidency. Accordingly, the new regulation enacted on 2 October 2022 repealed the previous regulation of 28 May 2017. The decree entered into force upon publication, and its implementation is carried out by the President of the Republic.

2022 Regulation Reform

The new Military Council Regulation published on 2 October 2022 transferred all previously Prime Ministerial authorities entirely to the President of the Republic. The position of the Undersecretariat of the Ministry of National Defense as Secretariat of the Council was abolished, and this function was assigned to the General Directorate of Personnel of the Ministry of National Defense. Thus, the Supreme Military Council attained a modern structure aligned with the Presidential System of Government, composed of both civilian and military members.