RTUK's existence rests not only on statute but on the Constitution. That places it in a separate position among regulatory bodies.
The Constitutional Basis - Art. 133/2
(Added paragraph: 21/6/2005-5370/1) - The Radio and Television Supreme Council, established to regulate and supervise radio and television activities, consists of nine members. The members are elected by the plenary of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey from among the candidates the political party groups nominate, as twice the number of members to be determined in proportion to their number of members, taking as a basis the number of members falling to each political party group.
We cover the detail in the Art. 133 guide.
Establishment - Art. 34/1
The Radio and Television Supreme Council has been established, as an impartial public legal person with administrative and financial autonomy, for the purpose of regulating and supervising the radio, television and on-demand broadcasting services sector.
| Characteristic | Content |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To regulate and supervise the radio, television and on-demand broadcasting services sector |
| Status | An impartial public legal person with administrative and financial autonomy |
Independence - Art. 34/2
The Supreme Council performs and exercises the duties and powers given to it in this Law and in the legislation independently and under its own responsibility.
Financial Autonomy and Property - Art. 34/3
The Supreme Council uses freely, to the extent required by its duties and powers, the financial resources allocated to it within the framework of the procedures and principles stated in this Law and in Public Financial Management and Control Law No. 5018.
The Relationship with the Government and Audit
| Issue | Provision | Para. |
|---|---|---|
| Relations with the Government | Carried out through the President or a Vice-President or a minister they designate | 4 |
| Audit | The Supreme Council is subject to audit by the Court of Accounts | 5 |
How Does the Supreme Council Work?
The Law governs the following in separate articles:
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| 35 | The qualifications and election of the members of the Supreme Council |
| 36 | The Chair and the Deputy Chair |
| 37 | Duties and powers |
| 38 | Prohibitions and oversight |
| 39 | The security of tenure and the financial and social rights of the members |
| 40 | The principles of work, the meeting and decision quorums |
| 41-42 | Financial resources, the budget and the collection of revenues |
| 43 | The organisation, personnel and posts |
We cover the election of members in the election guide and the duties and powers in the duties guide.
The Historical Background
RTUK's predecessor is the Radio and Television Supreme Board governed in Law No. 2954. The provisions relating to that Board were repealed by Art. 36 of Law No. 3984 of 13/4/1994. RTUK was established by Law No. 3984; in 2011 Law No. 6112 repealed Law No. 3984.
We cover the detail in the transition guide.
Summary
The Radio and Television Supreme Council is an impartial public legal person with administrative and financial autonomy, established to regulate and supervise the radio, television and on-demand broadcasting services sector. It performs its duties and powers independently and under its own responsibility. Its property has the character of State property and may not be attached. It carries out its relations with the Government through the President or a Vice-President or a minister they designate and is subject to audit by the Court of Accounts.