Iranian Political Institutions = the Government setup!!!

* Take out your reading homework * Homework --- WCSG and Iran’s Study Guide … Make comparisons as you work on these (preparation for Country Context Question) * Country Context Question is pushed to 2/11(x) and 2/12(y) ----(it will be on Iran and China) * Discuss 6.3 – Iranian Political Institutions * Create a Graphic Organizer to help in understanding * Discuss 6.2 Civil society

* Recognize the foundations of Iranian government and their institutions by completing 6.3 graphic organizer, continued work on review sheet, and continuing work in the WCSG * Analyze Iranian policies

Theocracy and Democracy

* These 4 institutions have executive, legislative and judicial powers that allow them to supersede all other positions and bodies. They abide by velayat-e-faqih (jurist's guardianship) – * they all have the encompassing authority over the whole community based on their ability to understand and interpret sharia and their commitment to championing the rights of the people.

* Democratic Elements

Theocratic Leadership

* Appointed by the Assembly of Experts (who are directly elected) for life * Religious source of authority, Revolution of 1979, military and Constitution of 1979 (China’s authority comes from the party/CCP, Revolution, and economics) (Russia’s comes from Revolution, Constitution, elections)

* Ultimate Power!!!! = Can be considered (kinda) Head of State * “Jurist’s Guardianship” (Supervises Domestic and Foreign policy) * Absolute veto power * Commander in Chief/declare war and peace * Appoint/dismiss military commanders * Appoint/removes head of Judiciary, military officers, Ministers of Justice, director of media * Eliminate presidential candidates/ vets candidates * Can dismiss the president * Appoints ½ of the Guardian Council * Oversees the Judicial Branch

* What can we now write in “How they check other aspects of government?”

* 86 men (must hold seminary degree) * Directly elected every 4 years for 8 year terms * Appoints/chooses the Supreme Leader /technically can remove the SL but doubtful it would happen

* Acts, almost like an Upper House * 12 male clerics * 6 appointed by the Supreme Leader/6 nominated by the highest Judge (who is appointed by the SL) and approved by the Majls * Make sure Majls laws conform to Sharia (jurist guardianship) * Vets candidates * Approves or vetoes Majls lesgislation * Nullifying election results if deemed fraudulent/approving election results

* 32 members including the president, chief judge, speaker of the Majls, etc. * Appointed by the Supreme Leader * Resolves conflicts between the Majls and Guardian Council * Meets in secret/initiates legislation * Acts as an Adviser for the Supreme Leader

* NOT a Presidential System * President = Head of Government --- Power limited by the Supreme Leader * Chief Executive – administers government * Directly elected – Majoritarian (2 rounds) – 4 year term/ 2 term consecutive * Signs treaties, laws, agreements * Supervised economy, proposes budgets * Proposes legislation * Appoints VP and cabinet, Governors, mayors, etc. * Appoints directors of para-statals/bonyans and bureaucratic agencies * Appoints Director of the National Oil Company = nationalized

* How they check? * Executive Section of the Whole Course Study Guide

* MAJLS= Democractic * Currently 310 – unicameral (needs Guardian Council approval) * Directly elected – Single-member districts/winner take all * Represents the nation * Enact the laws * Approves and removes the cabinet members appointed by the President * Approves budgets, foreign loans, treaties, etc. * Investigates if cabinet and ministers if formal complaints * Although they need Guardian Council approval NOT a rubber stamp ---- there are real debates on the floor of the Majls

* How they check * Legislative Branch section of the WCSG

* National, regional and local courts --- headed by Chief Justices * Must have understanding of Sharia … clerics * Appointed by the Supreme Leader – 5 year term * Manage the Judiciary * Oversees the media and can shut it down * They do not have final say --- Supreme Leader and Guardian Council = Jurist Guardianship * Judicial Review exits “kinda” … every law must abide by Sharia first!!! Judiciary does not have final interpretation

* Revolutionary Courts = political offenses, narcotics, confiscated property, “crimes against God” ---Trials not in public, no right to attorney, etc. * Civil Courts = all other cases – Some procedural prtections * 2 types of laws 1) Sharia= Religious 2) Qanun= elected government --- may not contradict Sharia ---responsibility of Majls to pass responsible Qanun – Reviewed by the SL and GC

* Sharia is divine law derived from God, and Qanun is law made by the people's elected representatives. * Qanun must in no way contradict sharia, so it becomes the responsibility of the Majlis to pass responsible Qanun, but an important job for the Guardian Council and supreme leader is to review the work of the legislature and to apply the interpretation of sharia to all laws passed.

* Constitution says independent BUT--- 1) Head of Judiciary serves a 5 year term 2) Appointed by SL 3) Responsible to the SL 4) Nominates the 6 lay members of the Guardian Council

* How they check * Judicial branch section of the WCSG

* Jurist Guardianship * Sharia * Supreme Leader=appointed for life * Guardian council = 6 appointed by SL * Expediency Council = appointed by SL * Most are members of the cleric * Judicial judgments of the of the SL and GC * President falls under the power of the SL … pious Shiites * VETS CANDIDATES!!!! * 6 members of the Guardian Council selected by the Majls * Majls directly elected – Single- member districts * Assembly of Religious Experts – directly elected * Majls passes the Qanun/laws * Court structure similar to other Democracies * Modern penalties being used * President directly elected

* Statist – Most is controlled by the state … except for small farming, small manufacturing, and services * Nationalization of OIL!!! --- Rentier * Reliance on oil

* Supreme Leader – can be seen as Head of State (not completely) Khomeini = 1979 – 1989 Khamenei = Present * President – Head of Government * Banisadr = * Khamenei= 1981 – 1989 * Rafsanjani= 1989 – 1997 * Khatami= 1997 – 2005 * Ahmakinejad= * Rouhani= Present

* Iran has currently 540,000 active troops, making it the 8th largest military in the world. Much about the military is kept secret, but they have shown that they can build long-range missiles. * The regular army defends the borders, while the Revolutionary Guards protect the republic. * Immediately after the Revolution, Khomeini established the Revolutionary Guards - an elite military force whose commanders are appointed by the supreme leader.

* The Revolutionary Guards remains an important political force, with its own ministry, army, navy and air force units, and has a great deal of say in Iran's nuclear program. * A large number of former Guards sit in the Majlis and men with close links to the Guards control principal media outlets.

* In 2004 the Guards showed their strength by deciding on their own authority to close down the airport in Tehran on the grounds that a national security threat was present. * The Basij is a loosely organized military that is formally part of the Revolutionary Guards. They are the civilian volunteers. * The Basij was reinvented in the 1990s when it quelled the street celebrations after Iran advanced to the playoffs in the World Cup for soccer. They also were accused of brutality while containing the demonstrations and dissidents after the contested 2009 elections. * military parade military parade * Revolutionary Guards Revolutionary Guards

* What might be compared? Think the big concepts!!! Use your WCSG to help!!!! * Legitimacy/Authority/Power * Government Structure/Systems * Leadership * Civil Society/Media * Cleavages * Judiciary * Legislature * Economic Liberalization or lack * Political liberalization