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Organized in collaboration between Istanbul Medeniyet University and Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, the “National Symposium on Procedural and Substantive Debates in Constitutional Amendments” was held on April 10–11, 2026, hosted by both universities, with the aim of examining constitutional amendment processes from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

The first day’s program, held at the Ziraat Bank Conference Hall in the Central Library, featured the participation of Constitutional Court Member Prof. Dr. Yusuf Şevki Hakyemez, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Istanbul Medeniyet University Prof. Dr. Özcan Günergök, and Dean of the Faculty of Law at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ateş. The event also featured numerous academics, expert speakers, and law students from both universities, who engaged in an exchange of ideas regarding constitutional processes.

“The Lawyers of the Future Will Carry Forward This Academic Torch and Advance Toward the Ideal of the Rule of Law”

Speaking during the opening session of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Özcan Günergök, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Istanbul Medeniyet University, emphasized that the faculty operates with the vision of being “an academic center where both legal knowledge is produced and rigorously debated.” Stating that such scientific activities hold indispensable importance for the maturation of constitutional culture, Günergök drew attention to the critical role of witnessing an academic culture of debate in the professional formation of young aspiring lawyers. Describing students as one of the most valuable elements of the scientific atmosphere, Günergök stated that they will carry this torch into the future. He underscored the faculty’s support for the development of the rule of law ideal, stating, “Future lawyers will carry this academic torch forward, guided by the ideal of the rule of law.”

“The Constitution Is Not Merely a Legal Text but a Social Contract and a Vision for the Future”

​Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ateş, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, who spoke next, defined the constitution not merely as the legal foundation of the state but as “the supreme legal norm that determines not only a state’s legal foundation but also its political, social, and even moral orientations.” Noting that constitutional amendments require a special sensitivity unlike ordinary regulations, Ateş stated that the legitimacy of an amendment depends “not only on the content’s relevance to democratic values but also on the procedures through which that amendment is carried out.” Emphasizing that procedure is not merely a technical process but a “security mechanism serving to protect the constitutional order,” Ateş stated that tools such as qualified majority requirements and referendums prevent arbitrary changes. Noting that current technological advancements, algorithmic governance, and new phenomena like artificial intelligence necessitate a reevaluation of the constitutional order, Ateş underscored that the constitution is “not merely a legal text but a social contract and a vision of the future,” stressing that constitutional amendments must be shaped not only by the accumulated experiences of the past but also by the needs of the future.

On the first day of the symposium, held at the Ziraat Bank Hall of Istanbul Medeniyet University, academic sessions followed the opening remarks. The opening session, chaired by Constitutional Court Member Prof. Dr. Yusuf Şevki Hakyemez, featured presentations by Prof. Dr. Abdullah Sezer, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yıldız, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Vahdet İşsevenler, Asst. Prof. Dr. Halit Serhan Ercivelek, and Research Assistant Damla Ustaoğlu discussed the concepts of founding power and sovereignty.  In the second session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sezen Kama Işık, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gülnihal Ahter Yakacak, and Asst. Prof.Dr. Feyzan Olgunsoy presented models of mass-based and deliberative constitution-making. In the third session, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Özcan, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Nohutçu, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Tumay, Asst. Prof. Dr. Nurullah Görgen, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Batuhan Ustabulut, evaluated political systems and checks-and-balances mechanisms.

On April 11, 2026, the symposium titled “Interpretation, Oversight, and Fundamental Rights” was held at Sabahattin Zaim University. Throughout the day, current constitutional issues were addressed in four separate sessions. In the first session chaired by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ateş, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ulvi Türkbağ, Asst. Prof. Dr. Levent Korkut, Dr. Abdullah Eryiğit, and Research Assistant Ayşe Nur Yazıcılar delivered presentations centered on artificial intelligence and the philosophy of law.  Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Salim Ateş Oktar, Prof. Dr. Cengiz Gül, Asst. Prof. Dr. Sinem Şirin Işık, Asst. Prof. Dr. Yasin Aydoğdu, and Asst. Prof. Dr. İsmail Mutlu examined the limits of constitutional amendments. In the closing session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Halil Kalabalık; Prof. Dr. Nihat Bulut, Prof. Dr. Yüksel Metin, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Taylan Barın, Asst. Prof. Dr. Halit Serhan Ercivelek, and Research Assistant Nebile Nur Adalı presented new rights-based approaches.

Following two days of intensive sessions, it was emphasized that the symposium contributed high-quality papers to the academic world and offered solution-oriented approaches to constitutional issues. The event concluded with a group photo featuring the participants and the students who contributed to the event.