BASIC LAW, 23 December 1876
The Territories of the Ottoman Empire
Art. 1: The Ottoman Empire comprises its present territories and privileged provinces, and as a single body, can never be divided for any reason.
Art. 2: The capital of the Ottoman Empire is the city of İstanbul; the said city has no privilege or exemption whatsoever setting it apart from other Ottoman cities.
Art. 3: The Imperial Ottoman Sultanate possesses the Great Islamic Caliphate, and is held, in accordance with ancient practice, by the eldest male member of the Ottoman dynasty.
Art. 4: His Imperial Majesty is the Protector of the religion of Islam, by virtue of the Caliphate, and the Ruler and Emperor of all Ottoman subjects.
Art. 5: The August Person of His Imperial Majesty is sacred and irresponsible.
Art. 6: The freedoms, goods, personal property, and, during their lifetimes, the revenues of the Ottoman dynasty are under public guarantee.
Art. 7: The sacred rights of His Imperial Majesty include: the dismissal and appointment of Ministers; the conferring of ranks and positions; the granting of decorations; the making of appointments to privileged provinces, in accordance with their privileges; the striking of coins; being mentioned in public prayer; the conclusion of treaties with foreign powers; the declaring of war and peace; the command of the land and naval forces; the execution of military operations and the provisions of the Şeriat and the law; the promulgation of regulations concerning the conduct of administrative departments; the reduction or commuting of legal penalties; the summoning and suspension of the Parliament, and in case of necessity, its dissolution, subject to the condition that fresh elections of Deputies be held.
General Rights of Ottoman Subjects
Art. 8: All subjects of the Ottoman Empire, regardless of religion or sect, are without exception deemed to be Ottomans; the status of Ottoman is obtained and lost in accordance with conditions specified by law.
Art. 9: All Ottomans possess their personal freedoms and are obliged not to violate the freedoms of others.
Art. 10: Personal freedom is inviolate from all forms of attack. No person may be punished on any pretext, except for the reasons and in the fashion laid down by law.
Art. 11: The religion of Islam is the religion of the Ottoman Empire. While this principle is protected, the freedom of all religions recognised in the Ottoman territories, and the validity, as in the past, of the religious privileges granted to various communities, are protected by the State, on condition that they do not disrupt the tranquillity of the population and public morals.
Art. 12: The Press is free within the limits of the law.
Art. 13: Ottoman subjects are permitted to form every kind of company for trade, industry and agriculture, within the limits of the regulations and the law.
Art. 14: One or more Ottoman subjects may petition the relevant authority concerning any matter which they see as violating the laws and regulations relating to themselves or to the public; they may also submit signed petitions to the Parliament, in its capacity as a prosecutor, and complain against the deeds of officials.
Art. 15: Instruction is free of let or hindrance. Every Ottoman is permitted to offer public and private instruction, on condition of conformity with the specific law.
Art. 16: All schools are under the superintendance of the State. Steps will be taken to ensure that the education of Ottcman subjects is marked by unity and order; there will be no infraction of the principles of instruction concerning the beliefs of the various religious communities.
Art. 17: All Ottomans are equal in the presence of the law, and, except in matters of religion and sect, in their civic rights and duties.
Art. 18: The employment of Ottoman subjects in the service of the State is conditional upon their knowing the official language of the State, Turkish.
Art. 19: In state service, all subjects may be granted suitable appointments, in accordance with their skills and abilities.
Art. 20: The established taxes, in accordance with the particular regulations, are imposed upon and distributed among all subjects, in proportion to the capability of each.
Art. 21: Everyone is assured of the goods and property of which he is the recognised possessor. Unless a necessity arising out of public interest is established, and unless compensation in accordance with the law is paid in advance, no-one's property may be taken.
Art. 22: Within the Ottoman territories every person's residence is inviolate. Except as provided by law, no-one's dwelling may be forcibly entered by the government, whatever the reason.
Art. 23: In accordance with a law which will be promulgated on the rules of trial, no person can be obliged to attend a court other than the one to which he is legally bound.
Art. 24: Arbitrary confiscation, corvée and arbitrary fines are prohibited. But taxes and impositions established in recognised fashion in wartime are excepted.
Art. 25: No money may be taken from any person, under the name of taxes and dues, or another name, except as provided by law.
Art. 26: Torture and every other form of ill treatment is categorically and totally prohibited.
The Ministers of the State
Art. 27: The posts of Grand Vizier and Şeyhülislam are conferred by His Imperial Majesty upon persons enjoying his confidence; similarly, the other Ministers are appointed by imperial İrade.
Art. 28: The Council of Ministers is convened under the presidency of the Grand Vizier and is the competent authority in important internal and external matters. Those decisions arising from its deliberations which require Imperial sanction are implemented by Imperial İrade.
Art. 29: Each Minister implements, in accordance with recognised practice, those matters pertaining to his department whose implementation falls within his authority; he submits to the Grand Vizier those matters whose implementation does not fall within his authority. The Grand Vizier implements those among the latter matters which do not require discussion, or else seeks the sanction of His Imperial Majesty; he submits those matters which require discussion to the Council of Ministers; in either case he implements the matter in accordance with Imperial İrade. The details of these matters will be defined in a special regulation.
Art. 30: The Ministers of the State are responsible for affairs and actions connected with their posts.
Art. 31: Should one or more Deputies make a complaint on a matter which lies within the competence of the Chamber of Deputies, and which invokes the responsibility of one of the Ministers of the State, then first of all, in accordance with the internal regulations of the Chamber of Deputies, a written statement of the complaint will be submitted to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, for examination by the section charged with discussing whether such matters should be referred to the Chamber; the President will send the statement within three days to the said section, which will conduct the necessary enquiries, and acquire sufficient explanations from the person complained against. Its decision, by majority, as to whether the complaint merits discussion, will be read out in the Chamber, and if necessary the person complained against will be summoned and interrogated, in person or indirectly. If the complaint is accepted by an absolute majority of two-thirds of the members present, a report requesting a trial will be presented to the Grand Vizier, and in accordance with the resulting Imperial İrade, the matter will be referred to the High Court.
Art. 32: The procedure for trying accused Ministers will be defined in a special law.
Art. 33: In all legal cases lying outside the sphere of their official responsibilities, and concerning purely themselves, there is no difference betreen the Ministers and other Ottoman individuals. Trials in such matters are held in the relevant public courts.
Art. 34: Ministers who have been charged with matters which it is decided fall within the competence of the High Court lose their positions until such time as they are acquitted.
Art. 35: If the Ministers insist upon a matter in which they are in dispute with the Chamber of Deputies, and if the Deputies, by a majority, and with a statement of their reasons, categorically and repeatedly refuse it, then it is within the sole authority of His Imperial Majesty to replace the Ministers, or else to dissolve the Chamber so that a new one may be appointed within the legal interval.
Art. 36: If, at a time when Parliament is not convened, there appears a compelling necessity to protect the state from danger or public tranquillity from disruption. and if the time is not suitable to summon and convene the Chamber to discuss a law deemed essential in this situation, decisions of the Council of Ministers, sanctioned by Imperial İrade, will have the force of provisional laws until such time as the Chamber of Deputies convenes to pronounce upon them, and provided that they are not contrary to the provisions of the Basic Law.
Art. 37: Every Minister, whenever he wishes, may attend the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, or send a senior official to represent him, and has a right of speech which takes priority over that of the members of the two chambers.
Art. 38: If a Minister is summoned to give explanations by a majority decision of the Chamber of Deputies, he will reply to questions either in person or by sending a senior official, and if seems necessary, he is entitled, on his own responsibility, to delay his answer.
The Officials
Art. 39: All officials will be appointed to posts within their competence and merit in accordance with conditions which will be defined by regulation. Officials thus appointed may not be dismissed or transferred unless conduct legally necessitating dismissal is proved, or they themselves resign, or compelling reason is perceived by the State. As will be defined by a special regulation, those of good behaviour and integrity and those who are retired by the State for a compelling reason will receive promotions, pensions and severance salaries.
Art. 40: As the duties of every post will be defined in a special regulation every official is responsible within the limits of his duty.
Art. 41: Although officials must show respect and regard for their superiors, their obedience is specific to the sphere determined by the law. Obedience to a superior offers no escape from responsibility in matters contrary to the lew.
Parliament
Art. 42: The Parliament comprises two separate chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Art. 43: The Parliament's two chambers meet annually at the beginning of November (O.S.), and are opened by Imperial İrade. They are closed, again by Imperial İrade, at the beginning of March (O.S.). Neither chamber may be convened when the other is not sitting.
Art. 44: His Imperial Majesty, should the State consider it necessary, may open the Parliament prematurely, and may shorten or extend the defined period of its meeting.
Art. 45: On the day of Parliament's opening, the inauguration ceremony is conducted in the presence of His Imperial Majesty, or, deputising for him, the Grand Vizier, and with the Ministers of the State and the current members of both chambers present. An Imperial Address will be read out, concerning the internal affairs and foreign relations of the state during the current year, and the measures and steps whose execution appears necessary in the following year.
Art. 46: Persons elected or appointed to the Parliament are, on the day of its opening, to be made to take an oath, in the presence of the Grand Vizier, to be loyal to His Imperial Majesty and the Fatherland, and to refrain from acts contrary to the provisions of the Basic Law and the duty conferred upon them; if not present on that day [they take the oath] in the presence of the Presidents [of the two bodies], the chamber of which they are a member being convened.
Art. 47: Members of Parliament are free to express their votes and opinions, and none may be obliged by any promise, threat or instruction Under no circumstance may they be exposed to indictment arising from their votes or from the opinions they have expressed in the course of discussion, even if they have acted contrary to the internal regulations of the Parliament. In the latter case they are dealt with in accordance with the said regulations.
Art. 48: If a member of Parliament is accused of treason, seeking to annul or abolish the Basic Law, or of an offence of corruption, he is judged by an absolute majority of two-thirds of the members present of the chamber of which he is a member; if he is legally condemned to a penalty necessitating imprisonment or exile, his status as a member is lost, and the judgement and punishment of his deeds is examined and decided upon by the relevant court.
Art. 49: Each member of the Parliament casts his vote in person, and each has the right to abstain from voting to reject or accept a matter under discussion.
Art. 50: No-one may be a member of both the aforementioned chambers at the same time.
Art. 51: Discussions may not begin in either of the two chambers of the Parliament unless one more than half the allotted members is present. All matters are decided by an absolute majority of the members present, excepting those where an absolute majority of two-thirds is specified. In the case of an equal division of votes, the President's vote counts as two.
Art. 52: If a person submits a petition concerning a claim on his own behalf to either of the two chambers of the Parliament, and if it is established that he has not previously referred to the officials of the State or to the department to which these officials are attached, the petition is to be rejected.
Art. 53: It is the prerogative of the Ministers to drew up new laws or to propose the amendment of an existing law. The Senators and the Deputies are empowered to request, in matters falling within their defined duties, the drawing up of laws or the amendment of an existing law: first of all, permission is sought from His Imperial Majesty through the Grand Vizier, and if a favourable Imperial İrade is granted, the drafting of bills, in accordance with explanations and information from the relevant departments, is passed to the Council of State.
Art. 54: Bills drafted after consideration by the Council of State, having been examined and accepted by the Deputies. and then by the Senate, and if their implementation is sanctioned by His Imperial Majesty's İrade, come into force. Should a bill be categorically rejected in one of these chambers, it may not be reconsidered during that year's session.
Art. 55: A bill is not accepted unless it has been read, clause by clause, first in the Chamber of Deputies and then in the Senate, each clause being voted upon and decided by a majority of votes, and after that, the bill in its entirety again being decided by a majority.
Art. 56: Under no circumstances may the Chambers receive and give a hearing to a person who has come to make a statement, whether on his own behalf or as the representative of a group, who is not a Minister, or Minister's representative, or a member of Parliament, or an official who has been formally invited.
Art. 57: The deliberations of the Chambers are conducted in the Turkish language, and copies of bills for discussion are printed and circulated to members in advance.
Art. 58: Votes in the Chambers may be taken by roll-call, special signs, or secret vote. The implementation of a secret vote depends upon a majority decision of the members present.
Art. 59: The internal discipline of each Chamber is maintained exclusively by its President.
The Senate
Art. 60: The President and members of the Senate are appointed directly by His Imperial Majesty, though their number must not exceed one third of the members of the Chamber of Deputies.
Art. 61: In order to be appointed a member of the Senate, it is necessary to be a person whose deeds inspire public trust and confidence, who has a record of praiseworthy service in affairs of the State, who is well known, and to be of an age no less than forty.
Art. 62: Membership of the Senate is for life. Members are appointed from among suitable persons who have formerly served as Ministers, Provincial Governors-General, Army Marshals, Kadıasker, Ambassadors, Patriarchs and Chief Rabbis, from among Army and Navy Generals, and other persons who possess the necessary attributes. Those who at their own request are appointed to other functions by the State forfeit their membership.
Art. 63: The salary of members of the Senate is 10.000 kuruş per month. Salaries received by members from the Treasury on other grounds will, if less than 10,000 kuruş, be raised to that sum; if 10,000 kuruş or more they will be maintained.
Art. 64: The Senate examines bills and budget proposals received from the Chamber of Deputies. Should, among the latter, there appear anything which fundamentally violates religion, the rights of His Imperial Majesty, liberty, the provisions of the basic Law, the territorial integrity of the State, the internal security of the country, the defence and protection of the Fatherland, or public morals, [the Senate], appending its opinion, returns it to the Chamber of Deputies, to be either categorically relected, or amended and corrected. It confirms bills it has accepted and submits them to the Grand Vizierate. Petitions submitted to the Senate are examined, and if necessary, presented to the Grand Vizierate with an appended opinion.
The Chamber of Deputies
Art. 65: The number of members of the Chamber of Deputies is determined on the basis of one member for every 50,000 males among Ottoman subjects.
Art. 66: Election is by secret ballot. Its form will be determined by a special law.
Art. 67: Membership of the Chamber of Deputies cannot be combined with a governmental office. However, Ministers who have secured election may be members, while other officials who secure election are free to accept or refuse. If they accept, however, they lose their government post.
Art. 68: The following are ineligible for election to the Chamber of Deputies. 1) Those who are not subjects of the Ottoman Empire; 2) Those, who in accordance with a special regulation, have been permitted to take temporary service with foreign powers; 3) Those who do not know Turkish; 4) Those under the age of thirty; 5) those who at the time of election are in private service; 5) Adjudged bankrupts who have not restored their creditworthiness; 6) Known bad characters; 7) Those under legal restraint whose restraint has not been lifted: 8) Those who have forfeited their civil rights; 9) Those who claim foreign nationality. Such persons cannot be members. At the elections to be held in four years' time it will also be obligatory to read and, as far as possible, to write Turkish.
Art. 69: General elections of deputies are held once every four years, and each deputy's term of office is four years, though re-election is permitted.
Art. 70: General elections of deputies must be held at least four months before the November in which the Chamber convenes.
Art. 71: Each member of the Chamber of Deputies is considered the representative, not merely of the constituency which elects him, but of all Ottomans.
Art. 72: Electors are obliged to elect Deputies from among the population of their constituency.
Art. 73: Should the Chamber of Deputies be dissolved by imperial İrade, fresh elections for all deputies will be commenced, so that they may convene within six months at most.
Art. 74: Should a member of the Chamber of Deputies die or fall under legal restraint, or absent himself from the Chamber for a lengthy period, or resign, or forfeit his membership as the result of legal condemnation or acceptance of an official post, another will be appointed in his place, in time, at the latest, to reach the next session.
Art. 75: The term of a member elected to a vacant deputy's post lasts until the next general elections.
Art. 76: Every deputy will be given by the Treasury, for each annual session, 20,000 kuruş, a monthly salary of 5,000 kuruş, and. in accordance with the civil service regulations, outward and return travel expenses.
Art. 77: The Chamber nominates, by a majority, three persons for its Presidency, and three each for its Second end Third Presidencies, making nine in all. They are submitted to his Imperial Majesty, and by Imperial İrade, one is preferred and appointed as President, and two as Vice-Presidents.
Art. 78: The discussions of the Chamber of Deputies are public. However, should it be proposed, by the Ministers or by 15 members of the Chamber of Deputies, to discuss an important matter in secret, the Chamber's meeting-place will be cleared of all but members, and the proposal will be accepted or rejected by a majority.
Art. 79: While the Chamber of Deputies is in session, no member may be arrested and tried, unless the Chamber itself decides by a majority that there are sufficient grounds for charges, or unless he is arrested during or after the commission of an offence or crime.
Art. 80: The Chamber of Deputies discusses the bills which are passed to it, rejects, accepts or amends those points which concern financial affairs and the Basic Law, and, in accordance with the Budget Law, examines public expenditures and decides upon them jointly with the Ministers, as, again with the Ministers, it determines the nature, quantity, distribution and raising of the corresponding revenues.
The Courts
Art. 81: In accordance with the specific law, Judges appointed by the State and possessed of Imperial Letters Patent cannot be removed. They may, however, resign. Judges' promotion, careers, transfers, retirements, and, should they be convicted of an offence, their dismissals, are governed by the specific law, and the same law indicates the requisite qualifications of judges and court officials.
Art. 82: All cases in the courts are conducted publicly, and judgements may be published. However, a court may conduct a case in secret for reasons specified in the law.
Art. 83: Everyone may, in the presence of the court, employ the legal means he judges necessary for the praservation of his rights.
Art. 84: A court may not, on any pretext, prevent the hearing of a case which lies within its jurisdiction, and once the hearing, or the preliminary enquries necessary for the hearing, have begun, it is impermissible to suspend or delay it, unless it has renounced the case. However, in cases entailing penalties, the rights of the government are enforced in accordance with the regulation.
Art. 85: Every case is tried in the relevant court. Cases between individuals and the government are tried in the public courts.
Art. 86: The courts are free from any interference.
Art. 87: Şeri cases are tried in the Şeri courts, and Nizami cases are tried in the Nizami courts.
Art. 88: The classes, duties and competences of the courts, and the allowances of judges, are defined in the law.
Art. 89: It is categorically not permitted to establish, under whatever name, an extraordinary court or commission empowered to deliver judgements outside the established courts, in order to try and judge special matters. But the appointment of guardians and arbitrators, as defined in the law, is permitted.
Art. 90: No judge may combine his position with another salaried State office.
Art. 91: Public Prosecutors will be appointed to protect public rights in criminal cases, and their duties and functions will be defined by law.
The High Court
Art. 92: The High Court is composed of thirty members. Ten each will be selected by ballot from among the presidents end members of the Senate, the Council of State and the Court of Appeal. [The Court] is convened, by imperial İrade, in the building of the Senate, whenever required. Its function is to try Ministers, Presidents and members of the Court of Appeal, and those who act against Imperial rights end bring the State into danger.
Art. 93: The High Court is divided into two: a bureau of accusation and a court of judgement. The Bureau of Accusation has nine members, selected by ballot from among three each of those members of the Senate, Council of State and Court of Appeal appointed to the High Court.
Art. 94: This Bureau decides by a two-thirds majority whether individuals against whom complaint has been made should be accused. Those in the Bureau of Accusation may not be in the Court of Judgement.
Art. 95: The Court of Judgement is composed of twenty-one persons, drawn, seven each from presidents and members of the Senate, the Court of Appeal and the Council of State. It passes judgement, by a two-thirds majority, and in accordance with the established laws, in cases whose trial has been judged necessary by the Bureau of Accusation. Its judgements cannot be appealed against.
Financial Affairs
Art. 96: State taxes may not be imposed, distributed and collected unless specified by law.
Art. 97: The State Budget is a law declaring estimates of revenues and expenditures. This law governs the imposition, distribution and collection of taxes.
Art. 95: The Budget Law is examined clause by clause and accepted in Parliament. Tables concerning the particulars of important revenues and expenditures are, in accordance with an exemplar defined by regulation, divided into sections, chapters and individual points, and are discussed one by one.
Art. 99: In order that the Budget Law may be applied within the year to which it refers, the bill is given to the Chamber of Deputies following the opening of Parliament.
Art. 100: Unless defined by a specific law, expenditures may not be made from State sources outside the budget.
Art. l0l: If, at a time when Parliament is not in session, it should prove, for extraordinary and compelling reasons, that there is a grave necessity to make expenditures not covered by the budget, the sums necessary to cover these expenditures may, upon submission to His Imperial Majesty and upon the issuing of an Imperial İrade, may be raised and expended, on the responsibility of the Council of Ministers, and on condition that a bill concerning the matter is submitted to Parliament after it has convened.
Art. 102: The Budget Law is valid for one year. Although it cannot be valid beyond that year, should, for some extraordinary reason, Parliament be dissolved before the budget is approved, the Ministers may, with the sanction of an Imperial İrade, extend the validity of the previous year's budget by decree, until the next session of Parliament, on condition that this extension does not exceed one year.
Art. 103: The Law of Final Accounts will reveal the true total of sums raised in revenue and disbursed as expenditures in any year, and its form and divisions will conform entirely to the Budget Law
Art. 104: The bill for the Law of Final Accounts is submitted to Parliament within four years at most from the end of the year it concerns.
Art. 105: A Court of Accounts will be set up to oversee the accounts of those charged with receiving and expending State resources, and to examine the annual accounts drawn up by government departments. Each year it will submit a statement of its findings and conclusions in a special report to Parliament. Once every three months, the Court will submit, through the Grand Vizier, a report on the state of the finances to His Imperial Majesty
Art. 106: The members of the Court of Accounts will be twelve persons, each of whom will be appointed by Imperial İrade, and will maintain his post for life, unless the necessity for his removal is confirmed by a majority of the Chamber of Deputies.
Art. 107: The details of the qualifications and duties of members of the Court of Accounts, the issues of their resignation, transfer, promotion and retirement, and the Court's sub-divisions, will be defined in a specific regulation.
The Provinces
Art. 108: The administration of the provinces is based upon the principles of the devolution of powers and the divisions of functions: the details will be defined in a specific regulation.
Art. !09: The form of election of the members of the Administrative Councils in the centres of the Provinces, Sub-Provinces and Kazas, and of the General Council which meets once a year in the Province’s centre, will be set forth in a special law.
Art. 110: The functions of the Provincial General Councils, as will be set forth in a specific law, will comprise the discussions of aspects of public works, such as the organisation of roads and passages, the formation of credit funds, and the facilitating of industry, commerce and agriculture, and also the dissemination of education among the public; they will also provide for the communication to the relevant authorities of matters concerning the violation of the provisions of the established laws and regulations concerning the apportionment and collection of taxes and other matters, with requests for their improvement
Art. 111: In each kaza there will be a Community Council for each millet, which will supervise the distribution to the rightful beneficiaries of the revenues of endowments in the form of houses, land and cash, in accordance with the terms of the endowment and ancient practice, and the distribution to the rightful legatees of revenues which have been left, in wills, for expenditure upon charitable purposes, and will also supervise the property of orphans in accordance with the specific regulation. These Councils will be composed of persons chosen from the millet in question in accordance with specific regulations which will be drawn up. These Councils will acknowledge the authority of the governmental authorities of their districts and of the Provincial General Councils
Art. 112: Municipal affairs nill be administered by Municipal Councils which will he established by election in the Capital and the provinces: the organisation and duties of these Municipal Councils, and the manner of election of their members, will be defined in a specific law.
Various Articles
Art. 113: Should, in any quarter of the country, there appear signs of an impending revolutionary outbreak, the Imperial government has the right to temporarily proclaim a state of siege specifically in that region. A state of siege entails the temporary suspension of the civil laws and regulations; the form of administration of a region under [a state of siege] will be defined in a specific regulation. It lies within the exclusive power of His Imperial Majesty to expel and exile from the Imperial Domains these who are proved by reliable police investigation to threaten the security of the government.
Art 114 The primary education of all Ottoman individuals will be compulsory; the detai!s of this will be defined in a specific regulation.
Art. 115: Not a single Article of the Basic Law may be suspended or waived on any grounds or pretext whatsoever.
Art. 116: Should the necessity for the changing or amendment of certain Articles of the Basic Law in accordance with circumstances become clear end absolute, it may be amended upon the following conditions: a proposal for such amendment having been made by the Council of Ministers, or the Senate, or the Chamber of Deputies, the amendment comes into force if, first of all, it is accepted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Chamber of Deputies, and then, having been confirmed likewise by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Senate, an imperial İrade is issued in that sense. An Article of the Basic Law whose amendment is proposed remains in force, losing none of its validity, until such time as, in the fashion explained, the necessary discussions have been completed and the imperial İrade has been issued.
Art. 117: Should any aspect of the law require interpretation. the definition of its meaning is settled, should it concern judicial matters, by the Court of Appeal; should it concern administrative matters, by the Council of State: and should it concern this Basic Law, by the Senate.
Art. 118: The regulations, practices and customs currently in force will remain so unless amended or abrogated by law or regulation in the future.
Art. 119: The Provisional Ordinance of 30 October 1876 concerning the Parliament is valid only until the end of the session of the Parliament which will meet for the first time.
The Territories of the Ottoman Empire
Art. 1: The Ottoman Empire comprises its present territories and privileged provinces, and as a single body, can never be divided for any reason.
Art. 2: The capital of the Ottoman Empire is the city of İstanbul; the said city has no privilege or exemption whatsoever setting it apart from other Ottoman cities.
Art. 3: The Imperial Ottoman Sultanate possesses the Great Islamic Caliphate, and is held, in accordance with ancient practice, by the eldest male member of the Ottoman dynasty.
Art. 4: His Imperial Majesty is the Protector of the religion of Islam, by virtue of the Caliphate, and the Ruler and Emperor of all Ottoman subjects.
Art. 5: The August Person of His Imperial Majesty is sacred and irresponsible.
Art. 6: The freedoms, goods, personal property, and, during their lifetimes, the revenues of the Ottoman dynasty are under public guarantee.
Art. 7: The sacred rights of His Imperial Majesty include: the dismissal and appointment of Ministers; the conferring of ranks and positions; the granting of decorations; the making of appointments to privileged provinces, in accordance with their privileges; the striking of coins; being mentioned in public prayer; the conclusion of treaties with foreign powers; the declaring of war and peace; the command of the land and naval forces; the execution of military operations and the provisions of the Şeriat and the law; the promulgation of regulations concerning the conduct of administrative departments; the reduction or commuting of legal penalties; the summoning and suspension of the Parliament, and in case of necessity, its dissolution, subject to the condition that fresh elections of Deputies be held.
General Rights of Ottoman Subjects
Art. 8: All subjects of the Ottoman Empire, regardless of religion or sect, are without exception deemed to be Ottomans; the status of Ottoman is obtained and lost in accordance with conditions specified by law.
Art. 9: All Ottomans possess their personal freedoms and are obliged not to violate the freedoms of others.
Art. 10: Personal freedom is inviolate from all forms of attack. No person may be punished on any pretext, except for the reasons and in the fashion laid down by law.
Art. 11: The religion of Islam is the religion of the Ottoman Empire. While this principle is protected, the freedom of all religions recognised in the Ottoman territories, and the validity, as in the past, of the religious privileges granted to various communities, are protected by the State, on condition that they do not disrupt the tranquillity of the population and public morals.
Art. 12: The Press is free within the limits of the law.
Art. 13: Ottoman subjects are permitted to form every kind of company for trade, industry and agriculture, within the limits of the regulations and the law.
Art. 14: One or more Ottoman subjects may petition the relevant authority concerning any matter which they see as violating the laws and regulations relating to themselves or to the public; they may also submit signed petitions to the Parliament, in its capacity as a prosecutor, and complain against the deeds of officials.
Art. 15: Instruction is free of let or hindrance. Every Ottoman is permitted to offer public and private instruction, on condition of conformity with the specific law.
Art. 16: All schools are under the superintendance of the State. Steps will be taken to ensure that the education of Ottcman subjects is marked by unity and order; there will be no infraction of the principles of instruction concerning the beliefs of the various religious communities.
Art. 17: All Ottomans are equal in the presence of the law, and, except in matters of religion and sect, in their civic rights and duties.
Art. 18: The employment of Ottoman subjects in the service of the State is conditional upon their knowing the official language of the State, Turkish.
Art. 19: In state service, all subjects may be granted suitable appointments, in accordance with their skills and abilities.
Art. 20: The established taxes, in accordance with the particular regulations, are imposed upon and distributed among all subjects, in proportion to the capability of each.
Art. 21: Everyone is assured of the goods and property of which he is the recognised possessor. Unless a necessity arising out of public interest is established, and unless compensation in accordance with the law is paid in advance, no-one's property may be taken.
Art. 22: Within the Ottoman territories every person's residence is inviolate. Except as provided by law, no-one's dwelling may be forcibly entered by the government, whatever the reason.
Art. 23: In accordance with a law which will be promulgated on the rules of trial, no person can be obliged to attend a court other than the one to which he is legally bound.
Art. 24: Arbitrary confiscation, corvée and arbitrary fines are prohibited. But taxes and impositions established in recognised fashion in wartime are excepted.
Art. 25: No money may be taken from any person, under the name of taxes and dues, or another name, except as provided by law.
Art. 26: Torture and every other form of ill treatment is categorically and totally prohibited.
The Ministers of the State
Art. 27: The posts of Grand Vizier and Şeyhülislam are conferred by His Imperial Majesty upon persons enjoying his confidence; similarly, the other Ministers are appointed by imperial İrade.
Art. 28: The Council of Ministers is convened under the presidency of the Grand Vizier and is the competent authority in important internal and external matters. Those decisions arising from its deliberations which require Imperial sanction are implemented by Imperial İrade.
Art. 29: Each Minister implements, in accordance with recognised practice, those matters pertaining to his department whose implementation falls within his authority; he submits to the Grand Vizier those matters whose implementation does not fall within his authority. The Grand Vizier implements those among the latter matters which do not require discussion, or else seeks the sanction of His Imperial Majesty; he submits those matters which require discussion to the Council of Ministers; in either case he implements the matter in accordance with Imperial İrade. The details of these matters will be defined in a special regulation.
Art. 30: The Ministers of the State are responsible for affairs and actions connected with their posts.
Art. 31: Should one or more Deputies make a complaint on a matter which lies within the competence of the Chamber of Deputies, and which invokes the responsibility of one of the Ministers of the State, then first of all, in accordance with the internal regulations of the Chamber of Deputies, a written statement of the complaint will be submitted to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, for examination by the section charged with discussing whether such matters should be referred to the Chamber; the President will send the statement within three days to the said section, which will conduct the necessary enquiries, and acquire sufficient explanations from the person complained against. Its decision, by majority, as to whether the complaint merits discussion, will be read out in the Chamber, and if necessary the person complained against will be summoned and interrogated, in person or indirectly. If the complaint is accepted by an absolute majority of two-thirds of the members present, a report requesting a trial will be presented to the Grand Vizier, and in accordance with the resulting Imperial İrade, the matter will be referred to the High Court.
Art. 32: The procedure for trying accused Ministers will be defined in a special law.
Art. 33: In all legal cases lying outside the sphere of their official responsibilities, and concerning purely themselves, there is no difference betreen the Ministers and other Ottoman individuals. Trials in such matters are held in the relevant public courts.
Art. 34: Ministers who have been charged with matters which it is decided fall within the competence of the High Court lose their positions until such time as they are acquitted.
Art. 35: If the Ministers insist upon a matter in which they are in dispute with the Chamber of Deputies, and if the Deputies, by a majority, and with a statement of their reasons, categorically and repeatedly refuse it, then it is within the sole authority of His Imperial Majesty to replace the Ministers, or else to dissolve the Chamber so that a new one may be appointed within the legal interval.
Art. 36: If, at a time when Parliament is not convened, there appears a compelling necessity to protect the state from danger or public tranquillity from disruption. and if the time is not suitable to summon and convene the Chamber to discuss a law deemed essential in this situation, decisions of the Council of Ministers, sanctioned by Imperial İrade, will have the force of provisional laws until such time as the Chamber of Deputies convenes to pronounce upon them, and provided that they are not contrary to the provisions of the Basic Law.
Art. 37: Every Minister, whenever he wishes, may attend the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, or send a senior official to represent him, and has a right of speech which takes priority over that of the members of the two chambers.
Art. 38: If a Minister is summoned to give explanations by a majority decision of the Chamber of Deputies, he will reply to questions either in person or by sending a senior official, and if seems necessary, he is entitled, on his own responsibility, to delay his answer.
The Officials
Art. 39: All officials will be appointed to posts within their competence and merit in accordance with conditions which will be defined by regulation. Officials thus appointed may not be dismissed or transferred unless conduct legally necessitating dismissal is proved, or they themselves resign, or compelling reason is perceived by the State. As will be defined by a special regulation, those of good behaviour and integrity and those who are retired by the State for a compelling reason will receive promotions, pensions and severance salaries.
Art. 40: As the duties of every post will be defined in a special regulation every official is responsible within the limits of his duty.
Art. 41: Although officials must show respect and regard for their superiors, their obedience is specific to the sphere determined by the law. Obedience to a superior offers no escape from responsibility in matters contrary to the lew.
Parliament
Art. 42: The Parliament comprises two separate chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Art. 43: The Parliament's two chambers meet annually at the beginning of November (O.S.), and are opened by Imperial İrade. They are closed, again by Imperial İrade, at the beginning of March (O.S.). Neither chamber may be convened when the other is not sitting.
Art. 44: His Imperial Majesty, should the State consider it necessary, may open the Parliament prematurely, and may shorten or extend the defined period of its meeting.
Art. 45: On the day of Parliament's opening, the inauguration ceremony is conducted in the presence of His Imperial Majesty, or, deputising for him, the Grand Vizier, and with the Ministers of the State and the current members of both chambers present. An Imperial Address will be read out, concerning the internal affairs and foreign relations of the state during the current year, and the measures and steps whose execution appears necessary in the following year.
Art. 46: Persons elected or appointed to the Parliament are, on the day of its opening, to be made to take an oath, in the presence of the Grand Vizier, to be loyal to His Imperial Majesty and the Fatherland, and to refrain from acts contrary to the provisions of the Basic Law and the duty conferred upon them; if not present on that day [they take the oath] in the presence of the Presidents [of the two bodies], the chamber of which they are a member being convened.
Art. 47: Members of Parliament are free to express their votes and opinions, and none may be obliged by any promise, threat or instruction Under no circumstance may they be exposed to indictment arising from their votes or from the opinions they have expressed in the course of discussion, even if they have acted contrary to the internal regulations of the Parliament. In the latter case they are dealt with in accordance with the said regulations.
Art. 48: If a member of Parliament is accused of treason, seeking to annul or abolish the Basic Law, or of an offence of corruption, he is judged by an absolute majority of two-thirds of the members present of the chamber of which he is a member; if he is legally condemned to a penalty necessitating imprisonment or exile, his status as a member is lost, and the judgement and punishment of his deeds is examined and decided upon by the relevant court.
Art. 49: Each member of the Parliament casts his vote in person, and each has the right to abstain from voting to reject or accept a matter under discussion.
Art. 50: No-one may be a member of both the aforementioned chambers at the same time.
Art. 51: Discussions may not begin in either of the two chambers of the Parliament unless one more than half the allotted members is present. All matters are decided by an absolute majority of the members present, excepting those where an absolute majority of two-thirds is specified. In the case of an equal division of votes, the President's vote counts as two.
Art. 52: If a person submits a petition concerning a claim on his own behalf to either of the two chambers of the Parliament, and if it is established that he has not previously referred to the officials of the State or to the department to which these officials are attached, the petition is to be rejected.
Art. 53: It is the prerogative of the Ministers to drew up new laws or to propose the amendment of an existing law. The Senators and the Deputies are empowered to request, in matters falling within their defined duties, the drawing up of laws or the amendment of an existing law: first of all, permission is sought from His Imperial Majesty through the Grand Vizier, and if a favourable Imperial İrade is granted, the drafting of bills, in accordance with explanations and information from the relevant departments, is passed to the Council of State.
Art. 54: Bills drafted after consideration by the Council of State, having been examined and accepted by the Deputies. and then by the Senate, and if their implementation is sanctioned by His Imperial Majesty's İrade, come into force. Should a bill be categorically rejected in one of these chambers, it may not be reconsidered during that year's session.
Art. 55: A bill is not accepted unless it has been read, clause by clause, first in the Chamber of Deputies and then in the Senate, each clause being voted upon and decided by a majority of votes, and after that, the bill in its entirety again being decided by a majority.
Art. 56: Under no circumstances may the Chambers receive and give a hearing to a person who has come to make a statement, whether on his own behalf or as the representative of a group, who is not a Minister, or Minister's representative, or a member of Parliament, or an official who has been formally invited.
Art. 57: The deliberations of the Chambers are conducted in the Turkish language, and copies of bills for discussion are printed and circulated to members in advance.
Art. 58: Votes in the Chambers may be taken by roll-call, special signs, or secret vote. The implementation of a secret vote depends upon a majority decision of the members present.
Art. 59: The internal discipline of each Chamber is maintained exclusively by its President.
The Senate
Art. 60: The President and members of the Senate are appointed directly by His Imperial Majesty, though their number must not exceed one third of the members of the Chamber of Deputies.
Art. 61: In order to be appointed a member of the Senate, it is necessary to be a person whose deeds inspire public trust and confidence, who has a record of praiseworthy service in affairs of the State, who is well known, and to be of an age no less than forty.
Art. 62: Membership of the Senate is for life. Members are appointed from among suitable persons who have formerly served as Ministers, Provincial Governors-General, Army Marshals, Kadıasker, Ambassadors, Patriarchs and Chief Rabbis, from among Army and Navy Generals, and other persons who possess the necessary attributes. Those who at their own request are appointed to other functions by the State forfeit their membership.
Art. 63: The salary of members of the Senate is 10.000 kuruş per month. Salaries received by members from the Treasury on other grounds will, if less than 10,000 kuruş, be raised to that sum; if 10,000 kuruş or more they will be maintained.
Art. 64: The Senate examines bills and budget proposals received from the Chamber of Deputies. Should, among the latter, there appear anything which fundamentally violates religion, the rights of His Imperial Majesty, liberty, the provisions of the basic Law, the territorial integrity of the State, the internal security of the country, the defence and protection of the Fatherland, or public morals, [the Senate], appending its opinion, returns it to the Chamber of Deputies, to be either categorically relected, or amended and corrected. It confirms bills it has accepted and submits them to the Grand Vizierate. Petitions submitted to the Senate are examined, and if necessary, presented to the Grand Vizierate with an appended opinion.
The Chamber of Deputies
Art. 65: The number of members of the Chamber of Deputies is determined on the basis of one member for every 50,000 males among Ottoman subjects.
Art. 66: Election is by secret ballot. Its form will be determined by a special law.
Art. 67: Membership of the Chamber of Deputies cannot be combined with a governmental office. However, Ministers who have secured election may be members, while other officials who secure election are free to accept or refuse. If they accept, however, they lose their government post.
Art. 68: The following are ineligible for election to the Chamber of Deputies. 1) Those who are not subjects of the Ottoman Empire; 2) Those, who in accordance with a special regulation, have been permitted to take temporary service with foreign powers; 3) Those who do not know Turkish; 4) Those under the age of thirty; 5) those who at the time of election are in private service; 5) Adjudged bankrupts who have not restored their creditworthiness; 6) Known bad characters; 7) Those under legal restraint whose restraint has not been lifted: 8) Those who have forfeited their civil rights; 9) Those who claim foreign nationality. Such persons cannot be members. At the elections to be held in four years' time it will also be obligatory to read and, as far as possible, to write Turkish.
Art. 69: General elections of deputies are held once every four years, and each deputy's term of office is four years, though re-election is permitted.
Art. 70: General elections of deputies must be held at least four months before the November in which the Chamber convenes.
Art. 71: Each member of the Chamber of Deputies is considered the representative, not merely of the constituency which elects him, but of all Ottomans.
Art. 72: Electors are obliged to elect Deputies from among the population of their constituency.
Art. 73: Should the Chamber of Deputies be dissolved by imperial İrade, fresh elections for all deputies will be commenced, so that they may convene within six months at most.
Art. 74: Should a member of the Chamber of Deputies die or fall under legal restraint, or absent himself from the Chamber for a lengthy period, or resign, or forfeit his membership as the result of legal condemnation or acceptance of an official post, another will be appointed in his place, in time, at the latest, to reach the next session.
Art. 75: The term of a member elected to a vacant deputy's post lasts until the next general elections.
Art. 76: Every deputy will be given by the Treasury, for each annual session, 20,000 kuruş, a monthly salary of 5,000 kuruş, and. in accordance with the civil service regulations, outward and return travel expenses.
Art. 77: The Chamber nominates, by a majority, three persons for its Presidency, and three each for its Second end Third Presidencies, making nine in all. They are submitted to his Imperial Majesty, and by Imperial İrade, one is preferred and appointed as President, and two as Vice-Presidents.
Art. 78: The discussions of the Chamber of Deputies are public. However, should it be proposed, by the Ministers or by 15 members of the Chamber of Deputies, to discuss an important matter in secret, the Chamber's meeting-place will be cleared of all but members, and the proposal will be accepted or rejected by a majority.
Art. 79: While the Chamber of Deputies is in session, no member may be arrested and tried, unless the Chamber itself decides by a majority that there are sufficient grounds for charges, or unless he is arrested during or after the commission of an offence or crime.
Art. 80: The Chamber of Deputies discusses the bills which are passed to it, rejects, accepts or amends those points which concern financial affairs and the Basic Law, and, in accordance with the Budget Law, examines public expenditures and decides upon them jointly with the Ministers, as, again with the Ministers, it determines the nature, quantity, distribution and raising of the corresponding revenues.
The Courts
Art. 81: In accordance with the specific law, Judges appointed by the State and possessed of Imperial Letters Patent cannot be removed. They may, however, resign. Judges' promotion, careers, transfers, retirements, and, should they be convicted of an offence, their dismissals, are governed by the specific law, and the same law indicates the requisite qualifications of judges and court officials.
Art. 82: All cases in the courts are conducted publicly, and judgements may be published. However, a court may conduct a case in secret for reasons specified in the law.
Art. 83: Everyone may, in the presence of the court, employ the legal means he judges necessary for the praservation of his rights.
Art. 84: A court may not, on any pretext, prevent the hearing of a case which lies within its jurisdiction, and once the hearing, or the preliminary enquries necessary for the hearing, have begun, it is impermissible to suspend or delay it, unless it has renounced the case. However, in cases entailing penalties, the rights of the government are enforced in accordance with the regulation.
Art. 85: Every case is tried in the relevant court. Cases between individuals and the government are tried in the public courts.
Art. 86: The courts are free from any interference.
Art. 87: Şeri cases are tried in the Şeri courts, and Nizami cases are tried in the Nizami courts.
Art. 88: The classes, duties and competences of the courts, and the allowances of judges, are defined in the law.
Art. 89: It is categorically not permitted to establish, under whatever name, an extraordinary court or commission empowered to deliver judgements outside the established courts, in order to try and judge special matters. But the appointment of guardians and arbitrators, as defined in the law, is permitted.
Art. 90: No judge may combine his position with another salaried State office.
Art. 91: Public Prosecutors will be appointed to protect public rights in criminal cases, and their duties and functions will be defined by law.
The High Court
Art. 92: The High Court is composed of thirty members. Ten each will be selected by ballot from among the presidents end members of the Senate, the Council of State and the Court of Appeal. [The Court] is convened, by imperial İrade, in the building of the Senate, whenever required. Its function is to try Ministers, Presidents and members of the Court of Appeal, and those who act against Imperial rights end bring the State into danger.
Art. 93: The High Court is divided into two: a bureau of accusation and a court of judgement. The Bureau of Accusation has nine members, selected by ballot from among three each of those members of the Senate, Council of State and Court of Appeal appointed to the High Court.
Art. 94: This Bureau decides by a two-thirds majority whether individuals against whom complaint has been made should be accused. Those in the Bureau of Accusation may not be in the Court of Judgement.
Art. 95: The Court of Judgement is composed of twenty-one persons, drawn, seven each from presidents and members of the Senate, the Court of Appeal and the Council of State. It passes judgement, by a two-thirds majority, and in accordance with the established laws, in cases whose trial has been judged necessary by the Bureau of Accusation. Its judgements cannot be appealed against.
Financial Affairs
Art. 96: State taxes may not be imposed, distributed and collected unless specified by law.
Art. 97: The State Budget is a law declaring estimates of revenues and expenditures. This law governs the imposition, distribution and collection of taxes.
Art. 95: The Budget Law is examined clause by clause and accepted in Parliament. Tables concerning the particulars of important revenues and expenditures are, in accordance with an exemplar defined by regulation, divided into sections, chapters and individual points, and are discussed one by one.
Art. 99: In order that the Budget Law may be applied within the year to which it refers, the bill is given to the Chamber of Deputies following the opening of Parliament.
Art. 100: Unless defined by a specific law, expenditures may not be made from State sources outside the budget.
Art. l0l: If, at a time when Parliament is not in session, it should prove, for extraordinary and compelling reasons, that there is a grave necessity to make expenditures not covered by the budget, the sums necessary to cover these expenditures may, upon submission to His Imperial Majesty and upon the issuing of an Imperial İrade, may be raised and expended, on the responsibility of the Council of Ministers, and on condition that a bill concerning the matter is submitted to Parliament after it has convened.
Art. 102: The Budget Law is valid for one year. Although it cannot be valid beyond that year, should, for some extraordinary reason, Parliament be dissolved before the budget is approved, the Ministers may, with the sanction of an Imperial İrade, extend the validity of the previous year's budget by decree, until the next session of Parliament, on condition that this extension does not exceed one year.
Art. 103: The Law of Final Accounts will reveal the true total of sums raised in revenue and disbursed as expenditures in any year, and its form and divisions will conform entirely to the Budget Law
Art. 104: The bill for the Law of Final Accounts is submitted to Parliament within four years at most from the end of the year it concerns.
Art. 105: A Court of Accounts will be set up to oversee the accounts of those charged with receiving and expending State resources, and to examine the annual accounts drawn up by government departments. Each year it will submit a statement of its findings and conclusions in a special report to Parliament. Once every three months, the Court will submit, through the Grand Vizier, a report on the state of the finances to His Imperial Majesty
Art. 106: The members of the Court of Accounts will be twelve persons, each of whom will be appointed by Imperial İrade, and will maintain his post for life, unless the necessity for his removal is confirmed by a majority of the Chamber of Deputies.
Art. 107: The details of the qualifications and duties of members of the Court of Accounts, the issues of their resignation, transfer, promotion and retirement, and the Court's sub-divisions, will be defined in a specific regulation.
The Provinces
Art. 108: The administration of the provinces is based upon the principles of the devolution of powers and the divisions of functions: the details will be defined in a specific regulation.
Art. !09: The form of election of the members of the Administrative Councils in the centres of the Provinces, Sub-Provinces and Kazas, and of the General Council which meets once a year in the Province’s centre, will be set forth in a special law.
Art. 110: The functions of the Provincial General Councils, as will be set forth in a specific law, will comprise the discussions of aspects of public works, such as the organisation of roads and passages, the formation of credit funds, and the facilitating of industry, commerce and agriculture, and also the dissemination of education among the public; they will also provide for the communication to the relevant authorities of matters concerning the violation of the provisions of the established laws and regulations concerning the apportionment and collection of taxes and other matters, with requests for their improvement
Art. 111: In each kaza there will be a Community Council for each millet, which will supervise the distribution to the rightful beneficiaries of the revenues of endowments in the form of houses, land and cash, in accordance with the terms of the endowment and ancient practice, and the distribution to the rightful legatees of revenues which have been left, in wills, for expenditure upon charitable purposes, and will also supervise the property of orphans in accordance with the specific regulation. These Councils will be composed of persons chosen from the millet in question in accordance with specific regulations which will be drawn up. These Councils will acknowledge the authority of the governmental authorities of their districts and of the Provincial General Councils
Art. 112: Municipal affairs nill be administered by Municipal Councils which will he established by election in the Capital and the provinces: the organisation and duties of these Municipal Councils, and the manner of election of their members, will be defined in a specific law.
Various Articles
Art. 113: Should, in any quarter of the country, there appear signs of an impending revolutionary outbreak, the Imperial government has the right to temporarily proclaim a state of siege specifically in that region. A state of siege entails the temporary suspension of the civil laws and regulations; the form of administration of a region under [a state of siege] will be defined in a specific regulation. It lies within the exclusive power of His Imperial Majesty to expel and exile from the Imperial Domains these who are proved by reliable police investigation to threaten the security of the government.
Art 114 The primary education of all Ottoman individuals will be compulsory; the detai!s of this will be defined in a specific regulation.
Art. 115: Not a single Article of the Basic Law may be suspended or waived on any grounds or pretext whatsoever.
Art. 116: Should the necessity for the changing or amendment of certain Articles of the Basic Law in accordance with circumstances become clear end absolute, it may be amended upon the following conditions: a proposal for such amendment having been made by the Council of Ministers, or the Senate, or the Chamber of Deputies, the amendment comes into force if, first of all, it is accepted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Chamber of Deputies, and then, having been confirmed likewise by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Senate, an imperial İrade is issued in that sense. An Article of the Basic Law whose amendment is proposed remains in force, losing none of its validity, until such time as, in the fashion explained, the necessary discussions have been completed and the imperial İrade has been issued.
Art. 117: Should any aspect of the law require interpretation. the definition of its meaning is settled, should it concern judicial matters, by the Court of Appeal; should it concern administrative matters, by the Council of State: and should it concern this Basic Law, by the Senate.
Art. 118: The regulations, practices and customs currently in force will remain so unless amended or abrogated by law or regulation in the future.
Art. 119: The Provisional Ordinance of 30 October 1876 concerning the Parliament is valid only until the end of the session of the Parliament which will meet for the first time.
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