First Constitutional Era

The First Constitutional Era (Ottoman Turkish: مشروطيت‎; Turkish: Birinci Meşrutiyet Devri) of the Ottoman Empire was the period of constitutional monarchy from the promulgation of the Ottoman constitution of 1876 (Kanûn-ı Esâsî, meaning Basic Law or Fundamental Law in Ottoman Turkish), written by members of the Young Ottomans, that began on 23 December 1876 and lasted until 14 February 1878.^[1]^[2] These Young Ottomans were dissatisfied by the Tanzimat and instead pushed for a constitutional government similar to that in Europe.^[3] The constitutional period started with the dethroning of Sultan Abdulaziz. Abdul Hamid II took his place as Sultan.^[4] The era ended with the suspension of the Ottoman Parliament and the constitution by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, with which he restored his own absolute monarchy.

The first constitutional era did not include a party system. At the time, the Ottoman Parliament (known as the General Assembly of the Ottoman Empire) was seen as the voice of the people but not as a venue for the formation of political parties and organizations.

The elections for the Parliament were held in accordance with the provisional electoral regulations. The Parliament (General Assembly of the Ottoman Empire; Ottoman Turkish: Meclis-i Umumi‎) was composed in two stages. The lower house of the bicameral legislature was the Chamber of Deputies (Ottoman Turkish: Meclis-i Mebusan‎), while the upper house was the Senate (Ottoman Turkish: Heyet-i Ayan‎). The initial selection of deputies was made by administrative councils in the provinces (also called "Meclis-i Umumi").

After the establishment of the General Assembly in the provinces, the members selected the deputies from within the assembly to form the Chamber of Deputies in the capital. The Chamber had 115 members and reflected the distribution of the millets in the empire. In the second elections, there were 69 Muslim millet representatives and 46 representatives of other millets (Jews, Phanariotes, Armenians).

The second body was the Senate, and the members were selected by the Sultan. The Senate had only 26 members. It was designed to replace the porte, and the Grand Vizier become the speaker of Senate.

The two elections happened between 1877 and 1878.

Both Ahmed Vefik Pasha and Isaac Pasha presided over the first Ottoman Parliament.

First term, 1877[]

Mehmed Kani Pasha, member of the first Ottoman Parliament.

The members' reactions to the approaching war were very strong, and Sultan Abdul Hamid II asked for new elections citing the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).

Second term, 1878[]

Mehmed Raif Pasha, member of the first Ottoman Parliament.

The life of the second term of the parliament was merely a few days, as after the initial speeches by the members from Balkan vilayets, Abdul Hamid II closed the parliament, citing social unrest.

The president of the Chamber of Deputies was a Deputy from Jerusalem, Yusif Dia Pasha Al Khalidi.^{[citation needed]}

Ottoman constitutional period

Ottoman constitution of 1876

1877, Meeting of the Parliament.

Significant people[]

Mehmed Rushdi Pasha
Ahmed Vefik Pasha
Hussein Avni Pasha
Midhat Pasha
Suleiman Pasha

References[]

^ "Meclis-i Mebusan (Mebuslar Meclisi)". Tarihi Olaylar.
^ "Meclis-i Mebusan nedir? Ne zaman kurulmuştur?". Sabah. 19 January 2017.
^ A History of the Modern Middle East. Cleveland and Buntin p.78
^ "Constitutional Period in the Ottoman Empire." Constitutional Period in the Ottoman Empire. N.p., n.d. Web. http://www.istanbul.com/en/explore/info/constitutional-period-in-the-ottoman-empire

[1] "Meclis-i Mebusan (Mebuslar Meclisi)". Tarihi Olaylar.

[2] "Meclis-i Mebusan nedir? Ne zaman kurulmuştur?". Sabah. 19 January 2017.

[3] A History of the Modern Middle East. Cleveland and Buntin p.78

[4] "Constitutional Period in the Ottoman Empire." Constitutional Period in the Ottoman Empire. N.p., n.d. Web. http://www.istanbul.com/en/explore/info/constitutional-period-in-the-ottoman-empire

[1]

[2]

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show v t Reign of Abdul Hamid II
Major events	Ottoman constitution of 1876 (Senate of the Ottoman Empire Chamber of Deputies) First Constitutional Era Hamidian massacres Yıldız assassination attempt Second Constitutional Era 31 March Incident
Associated buildings	Yıldız Palace Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque
Wars	Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) Greco-Turkish War (1897)
Family	Tirimüjgan Kadın (mother) Perestu Kadın (adoptive mother) Abdulmejid I (father) Abdülaziz (uncle)
Wives	Nazikeda Bedrifelek Nurefsun Bidar Dilpesend Mezidimestan Emsalinur Müşfika Sazkar Peyveste Fatma Pesend Behice Saliha Naciye
Category:Abdul Hamid II

First Constitutional Era

Contents

First term, 1877[]

Second term, 1878[]

Significant people[]

See also[]

References[]

Part of a series on the
History of the Ottoman Empire

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show Rise (1299–1453) Beylik of Osman Interregnum (1402–1413) Fall of Constantinople
show Classical Age (1453–1566) Sultanate of Women (1533–1656)
show Transformation (1566–1703) Köprülü Era (1656–1703)
show Old Regime (1703–1789) Tulip Era (1718–1730)
show Decline & Modernization (1789–1908) Nizam-i Djedid (late 18th and early 19th) Tanzimat Era (1839–1876) 1st Constitutional Era (1876–1878)
show Dissolution (1908–1922) 2nd Constitutional Era (1908–1920) World War I (1914–1918) Partitioning (1918–1922) Abolition of the Sultanate (1922) Abolition of the Caliphate (1924)
Historiography (Ghaza, Decline)
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Constitutional history of Turkey
First Ottoman Parliament
Constitutional documents
Charter of Alliance Edict of Gülhane Edict of 1856
Constitutions
1876 First Constitutional Era Second Constitutional Era 1921 1924 1961 1982
Referendums
1961 1982 1987 1988 2007 2010 2017
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