The Ottoman constitution of 1876 ' onMouseout='HidePop("10393")' href="/topics/Basic_Law">basic law

Basic Law

The term basic law is used in some places as an alternative to "constitution", implying it is a temporary but necessary measure without formal enactment of constitution. A basic law is either a codified constitution, or in countries with uncodified constitutions, a law given to have constitution...

"; ) was the first constitution

Constitution

A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...

 of the Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

. Written by members of the Young Ottomans

Young Ottomans

The Young Ottomans were a secret organization of Ottoman nationalist intellectuals formed in 1865, influenced by such Western thinkers as Montesquieu and Rousseau and the French Revolution. They developed the concept of Ottomanism, aligned with these thinkers...

, particularly Midhat Pasha, during the reign of Sultan

Sultan

Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...

 Abdülhamid II

Abdul Hamid II

His Imperial Majesty, The Sultan Abdülhamid II, Emperor of the Ottomans, Caliph of the Faithful was the 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire...

 (1876–1909), the constitution was only in effect for two years, from 1876 to 1878.

A large part of the reason for the Constitution’s existence was Midhat’s recognition of the need for a check on the power of the Sultan. However, the Constitution that was put in place certainly represented a form of autocracy

Autocracy

An autocracy is a form of government in which one person is the supreme power within the state. It is derived from the Greek : and , and may be translated as "one who rules by himself". It is distinct from oligarchy and democracy...

. The Constitution, under supervision of Abdulhamid II, did not limit the power of the ruler whatsoever. For example, Abdulhamid could deport people harmful to the state, essentially giving him the power to rid the Ottoman Empire of those opposing him. Although the rules in the Constitution had been twisted to suit Abdulhamid’s needs, it was abolished in 1878, and those who created it were exiled. Midhat was put to death.

Framework

The Constitution proposed a parliament divided into two parts: The senators were elected by the Sultan, and the Chamber of Deputies was elected by the people, although not directly (they chose delegates who would then choose the Deputies). There were also elections held every four years to keep the parliament changing and to continually express the voice of the people. This same framework carried over from the Constitution as it was in 1876 until it was reinstated in 1908.

Second Constitutional Era

The Constitution was put back into effect in 1908 as Abdulhamid came under pressure, particularly from some of his military leaders. Abdulhamid’s fall came as a result of the Young Turk revolution, and these Young Turks put the Constitution back into effect. The second constitutional period spanned from 1908 until after World War I when the Ottoman Empire was dissolved. Political groups and parties were formed during this period, including the CUP (Committee of Union and Progress).

Significance of the Constitution

The Ottoman Constitution represented more than the immediate effect it had on the country. It originally represented the country’s willingness to change and grow, even partially westernize. The liberal thinking and intellectualism that came along with the creation of the Constitution were new to the Ottoman Empire and represented a new, progressive generation of Ottomans. Despite its original failure, the Constitution did show some positives. It allowed the leadership to slowly transform from an authoritarian to a more democratic system, which included political parties and elections. These had to an extent dissolved the authoritarianism, although a form of military dictatorship ensued after the Constitution was reenacted.

External links

• Article on the Kanûn-ı Esâsî
• Full text of the First Ottoman Constitution (1876)