The 135^th article of the Constitution, which is the primary and utmost basis for the general aims and work principles of CAT and which emphasizes that professional chambers are institutions of “public benefit”, is as follows:

“Professional organizations and their higher institutions, having the qualities of a public institution, are legal public entities, whose organs are elected with secret votes by their own members in line with the methods indicated by law and which are established with the objectives of fulfilling the shared needs of those belonging to a particular profession, facilitating professional activities, helping the development of the profession in accordance with the general interests of the profession, protecting professional discipline and ethics by ensuring that honesty and trust are dominant in the relationship between professionals themselves as well as professionals and individuals.”

Parallel to this Constitutional decree, CAT’s aim and targets are defined as follows in its Statutes:

• To conduct work in the professional sphere within the context of national and public interests and international developments; observing, detecting and evaluating the status of the profession and members within the changing social and economic structure; defining the duties, authority and responsibilities of the profession and members; to monitor and ensure the development of the profession at national and international levels

• To protect professional honor and rights of the members;

• To engage in all kinds of activities in cooperation with domestic and foreign, official and private institutions to develop the profession both practically and theoretically, thus scrutinizing scientific and technical documents to fulfill the necessary professional supervision;

• To research and analyze standards and norms as well as regulations and technical specifications; to undertake necessary formulations;

• To cooperate with educational institutions in order to contribute to the development of professional education;

• To maintaining solidarity among members and preventing unfair competition;

• To ensuring that architectural culture is protected and enhanced

and to encourage good work in these areas