1. 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

2. 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?

3. Iran Review
Unit 7

4. 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

5. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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?