Kanunlarn

Kanunlarn appears to be a nonstandard transliteration of kanunlar, the Turkish word for laws. In Turkish, kanun means statute or law, and kanunlar is the plural form. Kanunlar function as the primary statutorily enacted rules governing public and private life, covering civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional matters. They operate alongside constitutions and regulatory acts as a core source of law in jurisdictions that use the Turkish legal system.

Historically, the word kanun referred to formal decrees issued by rulers in the Ottoman Empire. These decrees were often compiled into kanunnâmes (kanunname) or similar collections that organized administration, taxation, and legal procedures. Over time, especially during the Tanzimat reforms and the later establishment of constitutional frameworks, emphasis shifted toward codified statutes enacted by representative bodies rather than solely royal decrees. The Ottoman era produced influential legal traditions, some of which informed the development of modern Turkish law.

In the modern Republic of Turkey, kanunlar are acts passed by the Grand National Assembly (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi) and signed by the president to become law. They form the backbone of national legislation, subordinate to the Constitution, and complemented by regulations (tüzük) and administrative rules. The evolution of kanunlar includes landmark codes such as those governing civil, criminal, and commercial matters, with subsequent amendments reflecting social and economic change. Courts interpret kanunlar in light of the Constitution and established legal principles, while case law and administrative practice flesh out their application.

See also: constitution, civil code, penal code, regulation, mevzuat.