Introduction to Law in a NutshellNutshell Series I
Engin SAYGIN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 5
LIST OF TABLES 14
PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION 15
PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION 16
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION 17
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION 18
FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION 19
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 21
ABOUT THE BOOK 23
A NOTE FOR THE FACULTY OF LAW AND POLITICAL SCIENCES STUDENTS 25
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK 27
CHAPTER 1: SOCIAL ORDER RULES
INTRODUCTION 33
1 SOCIAL ORDER RULES 34
11 Religious Rules 36
12 Customary Rules 38
13 Moral Rules 40
14 Legal Rules 40
15 Comparison of Social Order Rules 41
16 The Relationship among Social Order Rules 43
161 The Relationship between Law and Religious Rules 44
162 The Relationship between Law and Moral Rules 45
163 The Relationship between Law and Customary Rules 48
2 DEFINITION OF LAW 48
21 Main Objectives of Law 50
22 Main Types of Legal Sanctions 51
23 Characteristics of Legal Rules 51
3 SOURCES OF LAW 52
31 Constitution 54
32 Codes (Acts, Laws, Bills and Statutes) 54
6 List of Tables
33 International Treaties 54
34 Presidential Decrees 55
35 By-Laws 56
36 Other Delegated Legislation (Subordinate Legislation) 57
37 Doctrine 57
38 Court Decisions 58
39 Hierarchy of Law 58
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 60
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 62
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 62
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 63
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 63
CHAPTER 2: SYSTEMS OF LAW
INTRODUCTION 69
1 LEGAL SYSTEMS 71
11 Common Law System 73
12 Civil Law System 75
121 Comparison between Common Law and Civil Law 79
13 Religious Law System 80
2 SEVERAL CONCEPTS 88
21 Law & Justice 88
22 Legal Positivism & Natural Law 89
23 Domestic Law & International Law 90
231 Dualism 91
232 Monism 92
24 Substantive Law & Procedural Law 92
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 94
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 96
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 96
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 97
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 97
CHAPTER 3: APPLICATION OF LEGAL RULES
INTRODUCTION 101
1 APPLICATION OF LEGAL RULES 102
11 Ascertaining the Applicable Rules 102
12 Determining Facts 103
13 Applying the Relevant Provisions of Rule 104
131 Syllogism 104
132 Argumentum a Contrario 105
133 Analogy (Argumentum a pari) 105
2 BURDEN OF PROOF AND PRESUMPTIONS 109
21 Burden of Proof 110
211 Burden of Proof in Criminal Cases 110
212 Burden of Proof in Civil Cases 111
22 Presumptions 112
221 Statutory Presumption 112
222 Rebuttable Presumption 112
223 Irrebuttable Presumption 114
3 INTERPRETATION OF LEGAL RULES 114
31 Textual Interpretation 115
32 Historical Interpretation 116
33 Logical Interpretation 117
34 Teleological Interpretation 117
35 Unrestricted Interpretation 118
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 119
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 121
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 121
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 122
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 122
CHAPTER 4: BRANCHES OF LAW
INTRODUCTION 125
1 CORPUS IURIS CIVILIS 126
2 CRITERIA FOR THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE LAW 130
21 Benefit Criterion 130
22 Free Will Criterion 131
23 Sovereignty Criterion 131
24 Equality Criterion 132
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 134
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 136
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 136
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 137
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 137
8 List of Tables
CHAPTER 5: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
INTRODUCTION 141
1 DEFINITION OF CONSTITUTION 141
11 Contents of the Constitution 143
111 Preliminary Chapter (or Preamble) 143
112 General Principles Chapter 145
113 Institutions of the State Chapter 145
114 Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Chapter 148
115 Effectiveness and Amendment Chapter 150
12 Essentials or Requisites of a Good Constitution 152
2 CLASSIFICATION OF CONSTITUTIONS 153
21 Unwritten and Written Constitutions 154
211 Merits and Demerits of Unwritten Constitutions 155
212 Merits and Demerits of Written Constitutions 157
22 Soft and Rigid Constitution 157
221 Merits and Demerits of Soft Constitutions 158
222 Merits and Demerits of Rigid Constitutions 159
23 Frame and Regular Constitution 160
3 CONSTITUTIONALISM IN THE WORLD AND TÜRKİYE 161
31 The History of Constitutionalism in the World 162
32 The Constitutional History of Türkiye 166
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 172
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 174
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 174
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 175
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 175
CHAPTER 6: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
INTRODUCTION 179
1 THE CONCEPT OF ADMINISTRATION 180
11 Division of Public-Private Administration 181
111 The Way of Establishment 181
112 The Purpose of Establishment/Activity 181
113 The Determination of Activity Areas 181
114 The Exercise of Public Power 182
115 The Principle of Equality 182
116 The Principle of Legality 182
117 The Way of Termination 182
2 THE BIRTH OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW IN FRANCE AND TÜRKİYE 182
21 The Birth of Administrative Law in France 183
22 The Birth of Administrative Law in Türkiye 184
23 The Features of Administrative Law 185
3 CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES OF TURKISH ADMINISTRATIVE
STRUCTURE 186
31 Centralisation 186
32 Decentralisation 188
33 The Integrity of the Administration 189
331 Hierarchy 189
332 Administrative Tutelage 191
333 Devolution of Powers 192
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 195
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 197
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 197
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 198
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 198
CHAPTER 7: TAX LAW
INTRODUCTION 203
1 DEFINITION OF TAX 205
2 TURKISH TAXATION SYSTEM 207
21 Tax Procedure 207
22 Substantive Tax Law 209
221 Personal Income Tax 209
222 Corporate Income Tax 211
223 Taxes on Goods and Services 211
224 Taxes on Property 215
225 Other Taxes 216
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 218
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 220
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 220
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 221
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 221
10 List of Tables
CHAPTER 8: INTERNATIONAL LAW
INTRODUCTION 225
1 THE CONCEPT OF THE STATE 228
11 The State and Society 229
12 The State and Nation 231
13 The State and Government 232
2 THE ELEMENTS OF THE STATE 233
21 Territory 233
211 Background Note on Aegean Disputes Between Türkiye and
Greece 235
22 Population 241
23 Sovereignty 241
231 Internal Sovereignty & External Sovereignty 244
232 Real Sovereignty & Nominal Sovereignty 244
233 Legal Sovereignty & Political Sovereignty & Popular Sovereignty 245
234 De Jure Sovereignty & De Facto Sovereignty 245
3 THE THEORIES OF THE STATE 246
31 Voluntaristic Theories 246
32 Theory of the Contract 247
33 Coercive Theory 248
34 Environmental Circumscription 249
35 Political Evolution 250
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 252
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 254
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 254
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 255
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 255
CHAPTER 9: CRIMINAL LAW
INTRODUCTION 259
1 THE DEFINITION OF CRIMINAL LAW 261
2 MAJOR ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL LAW 261
21 Definition of Crimes 261
22 Types of Crimes 265
23 Sanctions 274
24 Principle of Non-Retroactivity 278
3 THE AIMS OF PUNISHMENT 279
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 282
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 284
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 284
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 285
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 285
CHAPTER 10: CIVIL LAW
INTRODUCTION 289
1 TURKISH CIVIL CODE 290
11 Preliminary Chapter (Articles 1-7) 290
12 Book One (Articles 8-117): Law of Persons 293
121 Classification of Persons 293
122 Beginning and End of Personality 294
123 Capacity 295
13 Book Two (Articles 118-494): Family Law 298
131 Filiation 298
132 Marriage 301
133 Divorce 302
14 Book Three (Articles 495-682): Law of Succession 305
141 Intestate Succession 306
142 Testate Succession 307
143 Agreement of Inheritance 308
144 Limit of Free Will 308
145 Reserved Portions 308
146 Disclaim of Inheritance 309
15 Book Four (Articles 683-1027): Law of Property 309
2 TURKISH LAW OF OBLIGATIONS 310
21 Contracts 310
22 Illegal Acts (Torts) 310
23 Unjust Enrichments 311
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 312
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 314
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 314
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 315
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 315
12 List of Tables
CHAPTER 11: COMMERCIAL LAW
INTRODUCTION 319
1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF COMMERCIAL LAW 319
2 TURKISH COMMERCIAL CODE 321
21 Preliminary Chapter (Articles 1-10) 322
22 Book One (Article 11-123): Commercial (Business) Enterprises 325
23 Book Two (Article 124-644): Business Associations (Corporate Law) 327
231 Collective Company 328
232 Commandite Company 329
233 Joint Stock Company 329
234 Limited Companies 330
235 Cooperatives 330
24 Book Three (Article 645-849): Commercial Papers 330
25 Book Four (Article 850-930): Transport Business 332
26 Book Five (Article 931-1400): Maritime Law 332
27 Book Six (Article 1401-1535): Insurance Law 333
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 334
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 336
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 336
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 337
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 337
CHAPTER 12: PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW
INTRODUCTION 341
1 CONFLICT OF LAWS 343
2 LAW OF NATIONALITY 345
3 LAW OF ALIENS (FOREIGNERS) 348
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 355
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 357
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 357
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 358
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 358
CHAPTER 13: PROCEDURAL LAW
INTRODUCTION 361
1 THE LAW OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 362
2 THE LAW OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 365
3 THE LAW OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE 373
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 376
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 378
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 378
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 379
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 379
CHAPTER 14: BRANCHES OF LAW WHERE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAW CHARACTERISTICS
ARE MIXED
INTRODUCTION 383
1 LABOUR LAW 383
11 Individual Labour Law 385
111 Contract of Employment 386
112 Types of Employment Contracts 387
113 Termination of Labour Contracts 387
114 Obligations and Duties of Employer 391
115 Obligations and Duties of Employee 393
12 Collective Labour Law 393
13 Labour Judiciary 395
2 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 396
3 BANKING LAW 399
SELF-TEST QUESTIONS 404
FILL IN THE BLANKS QUESTIONS 406
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS 406
IN-TEXT QUESTIONS 407
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY/FURTHER READING 407
GLOSSARY 409
INDEX415
14 List of Tables
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1- CONTENT OF MECELLE 38
Table 2- SIMILARITIES AMONG SOCIAL ORDER RULES 41
Table 3- DIFFERENCES AMONG SOCIAL ORDER RULES 43
Table 4- MAIN LEGAL SANCTIONS 51
Table 5- SOURCES OF LAW 53
Table 6- THE MOST COMMON LATIN PHARESES IN LEGAL TEXTS 76
Table 7- ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF THE POLITICAL ENTITIES AND
CORRESPONDING LEGAL SYSTEMS 82
Table 8- LIST OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES IN THE CONSTITUTION OF
TÜRKİYE 149
Table 9- ARISTOTLE’S CLASSIFICATION OF CONSTITUTIONS 154
Table 10- CONSTITUTIONS IN THE WORLD 164
Table 11- REALISATION AND RATES OF IMPORTANT TAX TYPES IN TÜRKİYE 203
Table 12- TAX LIABILITY 210
Table 13- LIST OF VAT RATES APPLIED IN THE MEMBER STATES OF TH EU 213
Table 14- DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STATE AND SOCIETY 230
Table 15- DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STATE AND NATION 231
Table 16- DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STATE AND GOVERNMENT 233
Table 17- FORMS OF INTENT 264
Table 18- MODES OF PARTICIPATION IN CRIMES 266
Table 19- LIST OF OFFENCES IN THE TURKISH PENAL CODE 267
Table 20- TYPES OF CAPACITY IN TURKISH LAW 298
Table 21- COMPARISON OF TORTIOUS LIABILITY AND BREACH OF CONTRACTUAL
OBLIGATION 311
Table 22- APPROVAL OF THE COMMERCIAL BOOKS 327
Table 23- CIVIL COURTS OF FIRST INSTANCE 363
Table 24- THE CIVIL-CHAMBER NUMBER OF DISTRICTS COURTS OF APPEALS as of
11082021 364
Table 25- CRIMINAL COURTS OF FIRST INSTANCE 367
Table 26- THE CRIMINAL-CHAMBER NUMBER OF DISTRICTS COURTS OF APPEALS
as of 11082021 368
Table 27- THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL
PROCEDURES 372
Table 28- ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES BETWEEN
01/01/2020 AND 31/12/2020 399
