Summaries from Public Administration and Political Science Section
Presidential System in Turkey (2019)
The constitutional amendments in 2017 changed the form of government to the presidential system in Turkey. These amendments redefined the powers of legislative and executive organs and relations between them according to a presidential system of government.
This note provides the background to the constitutional amendments in 2017 and an outline of the main features of the new government system. Moreover this note summarizes the constitutional powers of The Grand National Assembly of Turkiye (GNAT) and the President of the Republic who is the sole executive authority. Information is also given about the parliamentary tools and methods by which the GNAT can accomplish its oversight role
Oath Ceremonies and Oath Texts of Heads of State (2019)
An oath is a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behaviour. An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before assuming the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body.
This study contains information about the oath texts and inauguration ceremonies of heads of state in nine countries which have parliamentary monarchy (United Kingdom, Spain), parliamentary republic (Italy, Germany), presidential system (USA, Brazil) and semi-presidential system (France, Poland, Russia) and inauguration/ swearing in/investiture ceremonies.
National Medical Associations in Selected Countries (2020)
Professional associations are organizations that are established to meet the common needs of those who perform a certain profession and to fulfil activities to protect their common interests and have various functions in terms of society, state, and members of the professions. These organizations may exist as a public authority within the state or separately from the state as legal entities under private law. In some countries, though, they are a mixture of both.
The functions of professional associations for doctors are mainly the same in the selected countries. Yet, there exists differences concerning legal basis, qualifications, and organizational structure. While some federal countries have a state-level (sub-national) regulation, some have country-level regulation. In some countries, professional associations are subject to private law (Germany, England, and France) and in some others; they are subject to public law (Austria). Finally, while membership in some medical associations is mandatory (Germany, Austria, Sweden), it is voluntary in some others (USA, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway).
State Support to Religious Communities in Sweden (2020)
In Sweden, laws that concern government support to faith communities are Act on Support to Religious Communities (2000) and Act on Fees to Registered Religious Communities (2000)
According to these legal regulations, in order for a religious community to benefit from some opportunities it must be a member of Swedish Agency for Support to Faith Communities (SST), which is a state institution. The purpose of the institution working under the Ministry of Culture is to enable congregations to work actively with a long-term focus on worship, education, spiritual and pastoral care. State aid is allocated to relevant religious communities through the Institution. These aids are given on the basis of organization, activity and project, taking into account the size of the members of religious groups. Religious groups can also apply for financial assistance, such as security expenses. SST also assists religious communities in matters such as training, capacity building, counselling and administrative support.
Apart from these, a convenience provided by the government to religious communities is that the religious communities can collect their donations through the Tax Authority to facilitate fundraising.
Death Penalty in the World (2020)
In about two-thirds of the 198 countries analysed in the study, death penalty is either abolished or not being executed in practice. The number of countries that abolished death penalty for all crimes is 106. Besides all EU member states these countries include Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Senegal and Turkey. The number of countries that abolished death penalty only for the ordinary crimes is 8. These countries include Brazil, Guatemala, Israel and Kazakhstan. The number of countries in which death penalty is not executed in practice despite legally existent is 28. These countries include Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Russia, South Korea and Tunisia. The number of countries that continue to apply death penalty is 56. These countries include Afghanistan, Chad, China, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA and Vietnam. The dates for the abolition of death penalty and the last execution dates of death penalty are also given in the study.
Legal Responsibilities of Social Media Companies in Selected Countries (2020)
Social media regulation is an increasingly controversial issue in the contemporary world. Parliaments around the globe are taking steps towards taking this matter into hand as a distinct object of inquiry. The business models of social media companies, the recent discussions on disinformation and fake news, and the legal responsibilities of the aforementioned companies are all examined within the scope of social media regulation. In this context, many parliamentary activities that focus on such topics can be observed in various countries. These activities can take the form of a hearing, a committee report or the enactment of a relevant law. In accordance with this framework, the parliaments of Germany, France, the UK and the USA are among the legislative bodies which put significant efforts to tackle the question of social media regulation directly. It can be asserted that the parliaments of Germany and France concentrate more on law making on social media, whereas the legislative activities in the UK and the USA in this field constitute a more committee-oriented outlook.
Electoral Management Bodies in Selected Countries (2019)
(Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom)
Electoral activities, which necessitate the complexity of specialist skills, require an institution or institutions to conduct them. In the literature on electoral studies, these institutions are referred to as electoral management bodies (EMBs). Due to their various organizational forms and sizes, EMBs may have a wide range of titles, such as election commission, department of elections, electoral council, election unit or electoral board etc.
This paper examines ten countries’ EMBs responsible for the conduct of elections in national level (i.e. general and presidential elections and referendums). In sampling, it was taken into consideration that the countries in question have distinct electoral management models, which are independent, governmental and mixed. Accordingly, several noteworthy findings are as follows: The EMBs only carry out and supervise the elections but do not have jurisdiction regarding electoral disputes; the EMBs can make binding decisions on the government; and the terms of office of the EMBs’ members are usually limited to the legislative term.
