THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OVER TIME

As we examine the development of the municipality over tine, we will try to explain in general terms without going into details. Even though the major topic is the municipality during the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey, we will also mention the Municipality organisation in earlier periods in order to give an idea of what it was like

HISTORICAL PERIOD

Our country’s metropolitan government administrative structure too its present form after passing through a number of stages in history. During the period of the Ottoman Empire, many municipal services were provided by means of wakfs. The establishment of municipal administration as we understand it today follows the days of Tanzimat (Reform).

The first attempt at establishing a municipal government took place in Istanbul in 855. at the recommendation of the national government and with the approval of the Sultan, a City Chief and 12 member City Council were placed at the top of the municipal offices were opened in different districts in the city thus completing the system.

It is interesting that the first municipal government office was established in the Beyoglu and Galata districts where the majority of the minorities are found. A manager and a city council headed each municipal office. Western consultants were employed and French was used as an official language alongside Ottoman. Municipal governments outside of Istanbul were established with laws passed in 1877.

The basic codes, which underlie today’s municipal organization, were acknowledged in law no. 1580 passed in 1930. Laws passed in subsequent years brought new arrangements regarding authority and responsibility.

An important change regarding municipal governments was contained in law no. 3030 passed in 1984. This Law brought important changes regarding the management of metropolises It created district municipal governments within the metropolises and gave more authority to the metropolises. Particularly in the matter of building.

THE MUNICIPALITY ORGANISATION BEFORE THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

The duty of the Municipality was to organize a hisbe organisation. The duties and the authorities of the hisbe were different from the municipality organisations of today. Hisbe literelly means doing something only to receive the consent of God. It is defined as a social service institution whose duty is to command goodness and avoid evil. The people who were appointed were called superintendents (Muhtesib). The duties of these superintendents were to impose rules of good manner; check general health; Inspect Roads, buildings and scales; control trade; fix prices for the benefit of the public and to prevent black-marketing and take every precaution for the interest of the public. Even in the municipality of today only some of these duties of the past can be fulfilled.

The hisbe organizations of the past were successful due to their development according to the laws of Islam.