ADVISORY COUNCILS IN THE OTTOMAN STATE DURING THE TANZIMAT PERIOD

Abstract

Throughout Turkish history, starting from the first Turkish states, committees were formed to assist the ruler in the execution of state affairs. These were named respectively as Kurultay, Toy, Divan, Shura, Divanı Hümayun, Meşveret. From the XVIIIth century onwards, with the effect of lost wars and westernization, the sultans formed wide-ranging advisory boards.  From this period onwards, advisory boards started to become permanent and formalized. The concept of “Meşveret Meclisi”, which started from Abdülhamid I onwards, turned into a fully functioning institution during the reign of the next sultan Selim III. Selim III acted according to the Layihas prepared by the Council of Legislators during the reform process he initiated under the name Nizamı Cedit. From the beginning of the XIXth century onwards, with the “Majlis Valayı Ahkâmi Adliye” and “Darüşuayı Askeri” established by Mahmud II, advisory councils became a part of the Ottoman state administration.   During the Tanzimat period, the “Majlis Ali Tanzimat”, which was established during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid, functioned as a decision-making body alongside the sultan and had many judicial, administrative and military powers. In this period, the fact that the Divan Hümayun was abolished and the Ministries established in its place were in the form of ministries necessitated an audit mechanism above all.  The institution of “Shûrâ-i-State”, which was also established during the Tanzimat period and supervised the state administration in its entirety and was the predecessor of today's Council of State, was the most influential institution of the state in its period.