Chapter 3: Persian Gulf, Arabian Peninsula
Iran: Leadership
Background
/ Executive / Legislative
/ Judicial / Political Opposition
Overview
/ System Essentials / Infrastructure
/ Population / Fielded Forces
/ Table of Contents
An Iranian official addresses the United Nations assembly
Background
The December 1979 Iranian constitution defines the political, economic, and social order of the Islamic republic. It declares that Shiite Islam of the Jaafari sect is Iran's official religion. The country is governed by secular and religious leaders and governing bodies, and duties often overlap. The chief ruler is a religious leader or, in the absence of a single leader, a council of religious leaders. The constitution stipulates that this national religious leader or members of the council of leaders are to be chosen from the clerical establishment on the basis of their qualifications and the high esteem in which they are held by Iran's Muslim population. This leader or council appoints the six religious members of the Council of Guardians (the six lay members--lawyers--are named by the National Consultative Assembly); appoints the highest judicial authorities, who must be religious jurists; and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The Council of Guardians, in turn, certifies the competence of candidates for the presidency and the National Assembly.
Executive
The president of the republic is elected by universal suffrage to a four-year-term by an absolute majority of votes and supervises the affairs of the executive branch. The president appoints and supervises the Council of Ministers (members of the cabinet), coordinates government decisions, and selects government policies to be placed before the National Assembly.
Legislative
The National Assembly consists of 270 members elected to a four-year term. The members are elected by direct and secret ballot. All legislation from the assembly must be reviewed by the Council of Guardians. The Council's six lawyers vote only on limited questions of the constitutionality of legislation; the religious members consider all bills for conformity to Islamic principles.
The Council of Expediency resolves legislative issues on which the Majles and the Council of Guardians fail to reach an agreement. Since 1989, it has been used to advise the national religious leader on matters of national policy as well. It is composed of heads of the three branches of government, the clerical members of the Council of Guardians, and members appointed by the national religious leader for three-year terms.
Judicial
Judicial authority is constitutionally vested in the Supreme Court and the four-member High Council of the Judiciary; these are two separate groups with overlapping responsibilities and one head. Together, they are responsible for supervising the enforcement of all laws and for establishing judicial and legal policies.
Political Opposition
The Islamic Republican Party (IRP) was Iran's dominant political party until its dissolution in 1987; Iran now has no functioning political parties. The Iranian Government is opposed by a few armed political groups including the Mujahidin-e-Khlaq (People's Mujahidin of Iran), the People's Fedayeen, and the Kurdish Democratic Party.
