1. Political Regime
Iran

2. What are the institutions of Iran’s government?
intro
What are the institutions of Iran’s government?

3. Constitution
Iran

4. Iran Constitution Constitution
The constitution of 1979 is a product of the Islamic Revolution
Since its creation the only major changes were made ten years later
The preamble says the current regime is a revolt against the “American conspiracy” of the White Revolution
The govt exists to guide the people toward the will of God
All political acts are expected to flow from the word of Allah

5. Sharia (God’s law) should reign supreme
Iran
Constitution
Constitution
All civil, penal, financial, economic, administrative, cultural, military, political, and other laws and regulations must be based on Islamic criteria”
Sharia (God’s law) should reign supreme
The Iranian constitution & political institutions attempt to express God’s will
It also embodies republican elements – recognizing that the overthrow of the shah was a revolution led by the people
The result is ongoing political tension between republicanism and theocracy

6. Iran Constitution Constitution
The result is a set of institutions that are bewildering to outsiders
Political institutions are consistent with velayat-e faqih
This is seen most clearly in the dual executive

7. Supreme Leader & President
Iran
Supreme Leader & President

8. Iran Supreme Leader Supreme Leader
The dominant executive is the supreme leader.
This position was created for Khomeini
It’s the most powerful office in Iran
It ensures that a senior cleric is at the helm of Iranian politics always
The supreme leader serves for life – but in theory can be removed for failure to uphold his religious duty

9. Supreme leader is commander in chief
Iran
Supreme Leader
Supreme Leader
His powers are indirect – not formally in the constitution – but derive from practices institutionalized under Khomeini
Supreme leader is commander in chief
He has control over the Guardian Council which vets candidates for elections
He appoints the chief justice and has significant influence over the judicial branch
He has control of state owned assets, not subject to review by other branches

10. Iran Supreme Leader Supreme Leader
He can be seen as the head of state because he embodies the people
He seems much more like a traditional monarch than a modern executive
He has control over the Guardian Council which vets candidates for elections
Since 1989 the supreme leader is Ali Khamenei, who was president from He was not an ayatollah
The constitution was changed and he was promoted to ayatollah since the constitution says the SL must be

11. Iran Supreme Leader Assembly of Experts
In theory, the supreme leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts
They are 88 men who are Islamic scholars
They are popularly elected for 8 year terms
The constitution says they can remove the supreme leader if he fails to do his constructional duties
The candidates for the assembly are vetted by the Guardian Council, limiting people’s choice

12. Iran President President
The president is more like the head of government than head of state
He is directly elected and can only serve two four year terms.
He directs policy, drafts the budget, initiates legislation, & appoints cabinet
He cannot veto legislation or dissolve the legislature to call for new elections.
He is technically in charge of foreign policy, but not in charge of the military.

13. Iran President President
The president was expected to be a nonreligious position that was more concerned with “worldly affairs”
From the position was primarily held by clerics
In 2005 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was election with a background in higher education and local govt, not theology
He emphasized social justice and confrontation with the West
His support seemed to rival Khamenei’s but his powers were significantly checked in his second term.

14. Iran President President
Since 2013, President Hassan Rouhani has been president
He is a cleric, and pursued a more reformist & less confrontational agenda
He seeks the support of the supreme leader for his policies.
The powers of the president are at their weakest since 1979.

15. Legislature
Iran

16. The Majlis is a unicameral body with directly elected members
Iran
Legislature
Majlis
The Majlis is a unicameral body with directly elected members
It has 290 members that serve four year terms. They must be at least 30.
It can initiate and pass legislation, oversees the budget, and approves members of the president’s cabinet.
Cabinet members can be removed by a vote of no confidence, but not the president or supreme leader.
There are 9 women in the Majlis, and single seats reserved for Zoroastrian & Jewish communities; 3 for Christians.

17. Iran Legislature Majlis
The Majlis has limited power because of the nature of the govt
Man made laws are liable to deviate from God’s will.
It should technically legislate in accordance with divine law, so its legislation can be struck down if it doesn’t
It does not challenge the supreme leader, but does have conflicts with the president over national policies
It is also used by representatives to gain resources through “pork barrel” projects.

18. Iran Legislature Guardian Council
Made up of 12 individuals who serve 6 year phased terms
6 are lawyers nominated by the chief justice & approved by the Majlis.
6 are clerics specializing in religious law and appointed by the supreme leader
They review all legislation from the Majlis to ensure its compatibility with Islam.
They send legislation back to the Majlis & if they can’t revise it the Expediency Council mediates.
They also vet candidates for presidential & legislative elections.

19. Its final decision on policy cannot be overturned.
Iran
Legislature
Expediency Council
Serves as a kind of unelected upper house with substantial powers to restrict the work of the Majlis
Its members (38 today) are appointed to 5 year terms by the supreme leader.
Its final decision on policy cannot be overturned.
They review all legislation from the Majlis to ensure its compatibility with Islam.

20. Judiciary
Iran

21. Iran
Judiciary
System
The legal system is derived from Sharia – religious law
The idea or “rule of law” is viewed as an attempt by people to assume legal authority where God should be sovereign
At the head of the system is the chief justice – appointed by the supreme leader for a five year term
He must have an understanding of Sharia
He oversees the appointment and removal of judges and manages the judicial institutions

22. Iran Judiciary Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal
It is staffed entirely by high ranking clerics chosen for their expertise in Sharia
Only clerics (therefore men) can serve as judges.

23. Iran
Judiciary
Judges
Judges have a lot of independence in interpreting the law.
This often leads to contradictory opinions across the courts
Outside observers think this makes the courts the most dysfunctional institutions
in the country

24. They deal with cases of national security, such as public protests
Iran
Judiciary
Revolutionary Courts
These are a legacy of the post revolutionary period when opponents of Khomeini were tried & executed
They deal with cases of national security, such as public protests
Iran executes the 2nd highest number of people in the world after China.
Execution is administered mostly for criminal offenses such as murder and drug smuggling.

25. Elections
Iran

26. Iran Elections Elections
Iran has some elements of democratic participation
The Majlis are directly elected, as are the Assembly of Experts, and the president
The 2013 presidential election had 73% voter turnout – they take participation very seriously
Even though they vote, the people’s choices for representation are restricted.
Majlis & Assembly have a mix of SMD and MMD

27. Iran Elections Guardian Council
The Guardian Council has power to oversee all elections
They can reject any candidate for office.
(They are all unelected)
In 2008 and 2012 elections for Majlis – 40% of all candidates were barred, eliminating all reformers
They can also bar standing officials from running for reelection
This has served to keep the Majlis and presidency under conservative control
Reformers like Rouhani can get through if they are seen as not a likely threat

28. Iran
Elections
Voting
There is universal suffrage for those over 18 ( it was lowered to 15 in the 1990s)
For Majlis elections, there are some MMDs and votes have a number of votes equal to the number of seats being voted on
Any candidate who gets 25% gets a seat and the other seats are filled by runoffs
The Assembly of Experts is elected in a similar war
The president is elected directly by majority vote.
The top 2 vote getters have a runoff if there is no majority

29. Revolutionary Guard
Iran

30. A paramilitary force that has been around since the 1979 revolution
Iran
Revolutionary Guard
Revolutionary Guard
A paramilitary force that has been around since the 1979 revolution
It had the immediate task of defending the new regime and destroying rivals
It expanded during the Iran-Iraq War to serve as an actual military force
It relied on a people’s volunteer militia, the Basij that was a grassroots civil defense force.
Basij members were poorly trained but had nationalist and religious fervor

31. Iran Revolutionary Guard Revolutionary Guard
At the end of the war, both continued to play a role in Iranian politics
The Revolutionary Guard has become increasingly independent
Its top leaders have taken on important roles in the state
It has its own ministry, army, navy, and air force as well as significant economic assets in construction & communication
It has an unclear role in the development of Iran’s nuclear program
Its leaders content for economic and political power & support of the SL

32. Iran Revolutionary Guard Basij No longer a significant military force
It also developed substantial economic assets
It serves as a public morality force
It bans public displays of affection and seizes illegal satellite dishes
Its members tend to be poorer and the Basij serves as an opportunity to gain access to benefits like education

33. Local Govts
Iran

34. Iran Local Govts Local Govt
Iran is divided into 30 ostan (provinces) with limited authority
The 1979 Revolution made claims about needing local govt but didn’t devolve power – it centralized power
Reforms in 1997 took power away from the Ministry of the Interior – which had appointed local governors & mayors
Local councils now manage local politics and the elections of mayors
Candidates for mayor must be approved by the Majlis – which is not as strict as the Guardian Council

35. Ayatollah’s Advice
Iran

36. Main Ideas Iran Ayatollah’s Advice Supreme Leader Role of President
Majlis & Elections
Guardian Council
Ayatollah’s Advice