Meclisi

Meclisi is a term used in Turkish and many Turkic languages to denote an assembly, council, or legislature. It derives from the Arabic-Persian word majlis, meaning a formal sitting or gathering, and entered Turkish through Ottoman usage. The form Meclis is the base noun; Meclisi is the form used in possessive constructions.

In modern Turkey, the term is associated with Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM), the Grand National Assembly, established in 1920 as part of the Turkish War of Independence. TBMM is a unicameral parliament that convenes to draft and pass national legislation and oversee the executive branch.

Across Turkic-speaking regions, similar forms appear for national legislatures. In Azerbaijan, the parliament is Milli Məclis (often transliterated Milli Mejlis), literally “National Assembly.” In other contexts, related terms such as Majlis or Mazhilis are used for parliamentary bodies in places like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, reflecting shared linguistic roots.

Etymology and cross-linguistic usage reflect the broader Semitic and Persianate influence on the region’s political vocabulary. The concept of a formal parliamentary assembly has been central to modern governance in the Turkic world since the early 20th century, with Meclisi-related terms appearing in official names and everyday language to describe legislative bodies and councils.