The Representation Capability of City Councils in Turkey: The Case for Siirt Province

The importance of local governments, of which organs were chosen and gained power after elections to satisfy the needs of societies in provinces, municipalities and villages are gradually increased because of the functions as giving opportunities for governance, realizing the democratic consolidation through the bases of society and growing politicians. The subject of our study is based on the idea as the needed elections for municipality councils by the voters in those regions, bringing them to the task by those elections, and determining the elected ones who would represent the local society better. On the other hand, the recognition of representatives by society, the representatives’ knowing their own society and their representation capacity upon the public itself are the important factors in order that the function of representation could be realized properly in those councils. This study handles and analyzes the representation capability of municipality councils in Turkey on behalf of the case for Siirt Province. In this respect, the profile for council members in Siirt province and county municipalities was created, and then their views and approaches upon representation were handled. The views and approaches which belong to the members being represented were rather analyzed by means of the representation capability of municipality councils.