One person per table to the left Need a piece of paper and pen/pencil Directions One person per table to the left Need a piece of paper and pen/pencil

How has Iran’s government changed in the past 100 years? Lesson Question How has Iran’s government changed in the past 100 years? How is this country different compared to the other 5?

Iran Review Unit 7

Unique political structure Useful Case Because… Unique political structure Theocracy – Shi’i Muslim – with “democratic” features Persian and Shi’i Muslim  differentiates culture Rentier state

Government Breakdown With your group, make a concept map about Iran’s government. Assembly of Religious Experts Supreme Leader The Guardian Council The Expediency Council The Judiciary The President The Cabinet The Majlis The electorate

Important Notes about the Government The Constitution Amended in 1989 – abolished prime minister position and modified selection of supreme leader Ratified through nationwide referendum in July 1989 Preamble affirms Believe in God, Muhammad, and the 12 Imams Religious principles of Islam Declares full faith in Khomeini’s doctrine of Guardianship of the Jurists – endows senior clerics with ultimate authority over the whole nation Supreme leader is assumed to be highest-ranking cleric in society.

Important Notes about the Government Supreme Leader Appointed by Assembly of Religious Experts Serves for life Has veto power over almost everything Leading interpreter of shar’ia law Commander-in-chief Appoints 6 members of the Guardian Council Can dismiss the president Form bonyads

Important Notes about the Government The President and Cabinet Elected every 4 years; can only have 2 terms Iranian, between 25-75, Shi’ite, uphold Islam Internal and external policies, sign international treaties and agreements, oversees budget, proposes legislation Heads the National Security Council Appoints cabinet, senior officials, provincial governors, directors Heads large bureaucracy

Important Notes about the Government Expediency Council Assembly of Religious Experts Mediates between Guardian Council and Majlis Appointed by the Supreme Leader Can initiate laws 32 members serving 5 year terms An upper house, so to speak 86 clerics with 10 year terms Elected by the people Required to have a seminary degree and pass special theology exams Can dismiss the supreme leader if they find him to be “incapable of fulfilling his duties” Oversees constitutional interpretation

Important Notes about the Government Guardian Council Majlis Powerful theological body 12 members – 6 senior clerics appointed by Supreme Leader and 6 judges from Majlis Approves all candidates for election Approves all legislation 290 members 285 single-member districts 5 religious minority representation Can enact and change statutory law with approval of the Guardian Council Investigate/supervise all state affairs Approve cabinet appointments, treaties, loan agreements, and budget Can choose 6 of the Guardian Council Can remove cabinet members through vote of no confidence

Important Notes about the Government Judiciary Unelected institutions Civil and criminal courts; clerical courts The Retribution Law Divided population into male v. female and Muslim v. non-Muslin Adultery, homosexuality, drug trafficking, and alcoholism punishable by death

Concept Check Which of the following are democratically elected institutions in Iran? The president The supreme leader The Assembly of Religious Experts The Majlis I and II I, III, and IV III and IV I only II only

Concept Check Which description most accurately depicts the Islamic Republic of Iran? A unitary government with a single executive, bicameral legislature, and single dominant party A unitary government with a dual executive, a unicameral legislature, and an official constitution A unitary government with a single executive, an unwritten constitution, and a powerful military A federal government with a dual executive, a supreme roam, and a unicameral legislative A federal onement wit a single executive, no constitutions, and a bicameral legislature

Reza Shah changed name from Persia to Iran Important Facts Reza Shah changed name from Persia to Iran Two key geographical features Lack of arable land Crossroads of other regions 2nd largest producer of oil in Middle East; 4th largest producer in the world Compare this to your other COGO countries with their economy in at least 3 sentences with your group.

Modern Iran Constitution of 1906 Reza Shah Introduced modern government features: elections, separation of powers, laws made by legislative assembly, etc. Kept monarchy and put most of the political power in the Majles Reza Shah Took power after WWI and became shah-in-shah Power in the name of nationalism and Shi’ism Turned back on fundamentalism and worked to modernize the country Abdicated throne during WWII for his son

Concept Check Which of the following political systems best describes the current political structure of Iran? Socialist Communist Military dictatorship Democratic Theocratic

Mohammad Mossadeq Modern Iran Prime minister from 1951-1953 Nationalized the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company Granted emergency powers by Majles Lost favor when he dissolved upper house of parliament, suspended supreme court, confiscated royal property, and expanded martial law CIA-sponsored coup to bring back exiles Shah Pahlavi

White Revolution Modern Iran Attempt to modernize country under shah’s “divine right” to rule Targeted the clergy Reduced everyday clerical impact Expanded women’s rights Upgraded training and equipment for military Catalyst for Khomeini, a charismatic religious leader, to inspire political change Argued that state and religion couldn’t be separate Clerics had obligation to see that Islamic principles were upheld

Islamic Republic of Iran Iranian Revolution Khomeini’s rule – belief that senior clerics had right ad obligation to rule to maintain Islam Iranian Hostage Crisis Iranian-U.S. tensions over Iraq Constitution of 1979 amendments in 1989

How has Iran’s government changed in the past 100 years? Revisit Lesson How has Iran’s government changed in the past 100 years? How is this country different compared to the other 5?