Iranian Government Institutions

Elections Citizens over 18 may vote (raised from 15 in 2007) Citizens over 18 may vote (raised from 15 in 2007) National elections held for the following: National elections held for the following: –Assembly of Religious Experts –Representatives to the Majlis (legislature) –President Elections to Majlis and President are by plurality, winner-take-all Elections to Majlis and President are by plurality, winner-take-all –Elections for president done over two rounds –First round narrows field down to 2 candidates, then winner-take-all election

Supreme Leader (Executive #1) Position created for Khomeini, currently held by Ali Khameini Position created for Khomeini, currently held by Ali Khameini Powers of Supreme Leader: Powers of Supreme Leader: –Elimination of presidential candidates –Dismissal of president –Commander in chief of armed forces  Declare war –Appointment/removal of judges + administrators –Nominate six members of Guardian Council –Mediate between 3 branches Responsibilities of Supreme Leader: Responsibilities of Supreme Leader: –faqih – leading Islamic jurist to interpret shari’a and religious documents –jurist’s guardianship – ensure all government follows Islamic laws)

President (Executive #2) Directly elected every 4 years Directly elected every 4 years Constitution requires president to be a Shiite and uphold Islamic principles Constitution requires president to be a Shiite and uphold Islamic principles

President’s Powers Supervises economic matters (creates budget) Supervises economic matters (creates budget) Proposes legislation to the Majlis Proposes legislation to the Majlis Executes policies  Head of bureaucracy Executes policies  Head of bureaucracy Signs treaties + laws Signs treaties + laws Chairs National Security Council Chairs National Security Council Selects cabinet ministers Selects cabinet ministers Appoints provincial governors, town mayors, and ambassadors Appoints provincial governors, town mayors, and ambassadors

First Supreme Leader: Ruhollah Khomeini

Current Supreme Leader: Ali Khameini

A Dual Executive

Guardian Council 12 members 12 members All Male All Male 6 members appointed by Supreme Leader 6 members appointed by Supreme Leader 6 members nominated by chief judge, approved by Majlis 6 members nominated by chief judge, approved by MajlisPowers/Responsibilities VETO POWER - Review laws passed by Majlis to ensure they conform with shari’a (jurist’s guardianship) VETO POWER - Review laws passed by Majlis to ensure they conform with shari’a (jurist’s guardianship) Decides who can compete in elections Decides who can compete in elections –In 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 disqualified thousands of candidates for both Majlis and presidential elections

Assembly of Religious Experts Directly elected by the people Directly elected by the people 4 year terms 4 year terms 1989 revision allows non-clerics to stand for Assembly 1989 revision allows non-clerics to stand for Assembly Power/Responsibilities Power/Responsibilities –Choose/remove Supreme Leader –Broad constitutional interpretation

Bureaucracy Has become more powerful since 1979 (greater policy-making power) Has become more powerful since 1979 (greater policy-making power) Clergy dominates the bureaucracy, head ministers are all clerics Clergy dominates the bureaucracy, head ministers are all clerics

Legislature: MAJLIS Unicameral legislature Unicameral legislature –Assembly of Religious Experts has served similar to an upper house since 1989 (Both groups are elected representatives) Members directly elected through single member districts by citizens over 18 years old Members directly elected through single member districts by citizens over 18 years old

Composition of Majlis 290 seats 290 seats –Five seats are reserved for the following ethnic minorities:  Zoroastrians: 1  Jews: 1  Assyrian and Chaldean Christians: 1  Armenian Christians in the north of the country: 1  Armenian Christians in the south of the country: 1 –Women currently hold 8 seats  Very few seats

Powers of Majlis Enacting or Changing Laws (with approval of Guardian Council) Enacting or Changing Laws (with approval of Guardian Council) Appointment of 6 of 12 Guardian Council members from list made by chief judge Appointment of 6 of 12 Guardian Council members from list made by chief judge Investigation/Removal of cabinet ministers, but not the president Investigation/Removal of cabinet ministers, but not the president Approval of budget, cabinet appointments, treaties Approval of budget, cabinet appointments, treaties

Judiciary Judicial review does not exist in Iran Judicial review does not exist in Iran Principle of jurist’s guardianship means that the Supreme Leader, the Guardian Council, and the Assembly of Religious Experts have final say regarding interpretation of law (shari’a) Principle of jurist’s guardianship means that the Supreme Leader, the Guardian Council, and the Assembly of Religious Experts have final say regarding interpretation of law (shari’a)

Military Revolutionary Guard – established by Khomeini after the revolution Revolutionary Guard – established by Khomeini after the revolution Commanders of the Revolutionary Guard appointed by the Supreme Leader Commanders of the Revolutionary Guard appointed by the Supreme Leader According to the constitution, the regular army defends the borders, the Revolutionary Guard protects the republic According to the constitution, the regular army defends the borders, the Revolutionary Guard protects the republic

The Basij Basij – volunteer militia of those too young to serve; created during Iran-Iraq War Basij – volunteer militia of those too young to serve; created during Iran-Iraq War –After war they became the Supreme Leader’s private militia –Currently serve as the Islamic Republic’s “morality police” (Comparable to Hitler’s Nazi Youth) –Enforce strict sharia law, such as dress code

Theocratic & Democratic Elements of Iran’s Government Structure Structure Supreme Leader Supreme Leader Theocratic Characteristics Jurist guardianship; ultimate interpreter of shari’a; appointed for life Jurist guardianship; ultimate interpreter of shari’a; appointed for life Democratic Characteristics Guardian Council Guardian Council Jurist guardianship; interpreter of shari’a; six members selected by the Supreme Leader Jurist guardianship; interpreter of shari’a; six members selected by the Supreme Leader Six members selected by the Majlis; which is popularly elected, indirect democratic tie Six members selected by the Majlis; which is popularly elected, indirect democratic tie Assembly of Religious Experts Assembly of Religious Experts Jurist guardianship; interpreter of shari’a Jurist guardianship; interpreter of shari’a Directly elected by the people Directly elected by the people

Theocratic & Democratic Elements of Iran’s Government Structure Structure Expediency Council Expediency Council Theocratic Characteristics Appointed by the Supreme Leader; most members are clerics Appointed by the Supreme Leader; most members are clerics Democratic Characteristics Some members are not clerics Some members are not clerics Majlis Majlis Responsibility to uphold shari’a Responsibility to uphold shari’a Directly elected by the people; pass qanun (statutes) Directly elected by the people; pass qanun (statutes) Judiciary Judiciary Courts held to shari’a law; subject to the judicial judgments of the Supreme Leader, Guardian Council Courts held to shari’a law; subject to the judicial judgments of the Supreme Leader, Guardian Council Court structure similar to those in democracies; “modern” penalties, such as fines and imprisonment Court structure similar to those in democracies; “modern” penalties, such as fines and imprisonment