AP Gov Iran

Iran Unit Review 

The review sheet covers terms, phrases and concepts that we have covered in our Iran unit through notes and homework.  If you do not see it on this review sheet, you will not be tested on it.  

Political Systems, Regimes and Governments 

Theocracy 

• Government run by religious leaders 

  • ulemas/ayatollahs- religious scholars of Islam

  • Jurist Guardianship aka Guardianship of the Jurist- belief that religious leaders know what’s best for the public.  Will make decisions in the religious best interests of society.  

• However has democratic elements 

  • People elect President and Majles 

Regime Change 

• Islamic Revolution of 1979 created Islamic Republic 

  • This was regime change from monarchy to theocracy 

Authoritarian state 

• Lack of political freedoms

• Lacks civil rights and liberties 

• Lack of free media

• Lack of rule of law 

• Prevents opposition movements

• Heavy use of violence and jailing against opponents of regime 

• Vetting of political candidates 

• Same Supreme Leader since 1989 

Unitary in Structure 

• Keeps power in the hands of theocracy 

• Makes government policy uniform across entire country 

• Creates more efficient policy making 

• Limits local government power 

• Local government exists at will of national government 

Political Institutions 

Theocracy with Democratic Elements 

• Theocracy and Democracy often clash 

• Iran’s system based in Sharia Law 

• Constitution gives legitimacy to both elected and unelected leaders 

• Dual Executive 

  • Head of State- Supreme Leader 

  • Head of Government- President

Theocratic Institutions 

• Supreme Leader 

  • Chosen and evaluated by Assembly of Religious Experts 

  • Must be male, Shia and high ranking Islamic scholar 

  • No term limits 

  • Sets political agenda for country 

  • Serves as commander in chief of the military 

  • Appoints 6 of the 12 members to the Guardian Council 

  • Appoints members to the Expediency Council

  • Appoints judges to high courts 

• Guardian Council 

  • 12 members (6 chosen by SUPREME LEADER and 6 chosen by the Majles)

  • Veto bills passed by the Majles, that don’t adhere to Sharia Law or the values of the state.  

  • Vet candidates that run for public office.  Remove any controversial candidates from running.

• Assembly of Religious Experts 

  • 88 members

  • Elected by the people

  • 8 year terms  

  • Evaluate the performance of the Supreme Leader and select a new one if necessary

• Expediency Council 

  • Chosen by the Supreme Leader 

  • 39 members 

  • Chosen every five years 

  • Mediates disputes between theocracy and democracy

    • Primarily mediates between disagreements between Majles and Guardian Council 

Executive Branch 

• President

  • Elected by the people through a majoritarian ballot 

  • Must be Shia 

  • Can serve two consecutive 4 year terms 

  • Helps to put together budget 

  • Oversees civil service and bureaucracy 

Legislative Branch 

• Majles 

  • 290 Seats 

  • Unicameral Legislature 

  • Elected by the people through plurality elections

  • Most districts are single member (SMDP) 

    • Some cities have multi-member plurality (MMDP) 

    • Tehran has largest multi member district with 30 members  290 members 

  • Four year terms 

  • Pass bills, Guardian Council can veto 

  • Select 6 members to be on Guardian Council 

  • 5 guaranteed seats for historic religious minority groups 

    • 3 for Christians 

    • 1 for Jews 

    • 1 for Zoroastrians 

Judicial Branch 

• Justices appointed by Supreme Leader 

• Sharia Law 

  • Islamic law based of Quran and other religious texts 

• Quanan Law- man made law by the Majles 

  • Cannot conflict with Sharia 

• No Rule of Law

  • Men and women not equal under law 

• No Judicial Review 

• Heavy use of death penalty 

• Harsh penalties for social and moral behaviors 

• Concept of Blood Money 

Military 

• Large traditional military force 

  • Heavy expenditures to military 

• Revolutionary Guard 

  • Domestic military force to protect values and power of Islamic regime 

  • Used as intelligence service 

  • Used abroad for special operations 

  • Highly corrupt

Political Culture and Participation 

Political Culture in Iran  

• Civil Society highly limited 

• Religion key aspect of civil society for both Shia Muslims and religious minorities 

• Authoritarian regime often cracks down on protest movements 

• Major protest movements 

  • Green Revolution 2009

    • Response to falsified re-election of Ahmadinejad in 2009

    • People wanted new election and/or reduction of power from theocracy 

    • Protesters slaughtered and mass arrests  

  • Hijab Protests 

    • Women protesting strict hijab law by removing their hijabs and exposing their hair 

• Heavy corruption among government officials and Revolutionary Guard 

• Little accountability of Supreme Leader or theocratic members

Rights of Women  

• Women have some rights as men but lack key rights in society 

• Rights  lacking for women 

  • Not equal under Sharia law 

  • Hijab law 

• Rights of women 

  • Can run for Majles (9 women currently in Majles) 

  • Can serve on cabinet 

  • Women can vote 

  • Women can attend university (more women in university than men) 

Basij

• Volunteer morality police 

• Seek to uphold conservative social/moral values of theocracy 

• Made up of young men 

Political Participation 

• Traditional high voter participation for Presidential and Majles elections 

  • Between 50%-70% typical for elections 

  • Supreme Leader promotes voting as “civic and religious duty” 

  • Many polling stations at mosques 

• Protests happen despite heavy government response and crackdowns 

• Frustration over lack of political party and ideological options for voters 

Social Cleavages in Iran  

• Shia Muslims vs. Religious Minorities 

  • Shia Muslims about 90% of population 

  • Religious Minorities 

    • Sunni

    • Christian 

    • Jewish 

    • Zoroastrian 

    • Baha’i 

• Ethnic Cleavage 

  • Persian Majority vs. Ethnic Minorities 

  • Major Ethnic Minorities 

    • Azeri 

    • Kurd 

    • Arab

• Urban vs. Rural 

  • Most of population lives in northern part of country and coast

  • Tehran center of economic and government power 

  • Poor small communities often feel left behind 

• Poor vs .Rich 

  • Economic sanctions hurt those in poverty more than rich and powerful in Iran 

• Ethnic minorities mostly live on perimeter of country 

Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations 

Elections 

• NO ELECTIONS FOR: 

  • Supreme Leader 

  • Guardian Council

  • Expediency Council 

• Presidency- Majoritarian system 

  • Every 4 years 

  • 2 Consecutive terms 

  • Last election 2017, next in 2021

• Majles 

  • Every 4 years 

  • Plurality elections 

  • Most districts are Single Member District Plurality 

  • Some large city districts are Multi Member District Plurality 

  • Tehran is largest Multi Member District with 30 representatives 

Party System

• No formal political party structure

• Parties are fluid and form loose alliances 

• TWO MAJOR POLITICAL FACTIONS

  • Conservative vs. Reformer 

    • Not much of a difference between the 2 

    • Both support:

    • The theocracy

    • Jurist guardianship

    • Sharia Law 

    • Continuing the strict moral/social standards 

    • Reformers want slightly more freedoms but nothing dramatic 

• Candidate Vetting 

  • Guardian Council vets candidates to decide if they should get on ballot 

  • Guardian Council has traditionally kept many Reformers off ballot 

  • Anyone suspected of promoting major government changes, will not be put on ballot 

  • Typically 40-50% of people that put in their paperwork to run for the Majles will be vetted and kept off ballot 

  • Almost all Presidential candidates are kept off ballot (More than 1600 people put in paperwork for President in 2017, only 6 made the ballot) 

Media in Iran 

• Media is highly monitored and censored by the government 

• Attempts to censor internet and social media 

• Print media is independent and numerous 

• Can make some criticisms of government but not against the Supreme Leader or Sharia 

  • Any media outlet that is deemed a threat to state will have media license suspended and will be shut down 

• Modern technologies have helped media (satellite, internet, cell phones)  

Political and Economic Change and Development 

Energy Based Economy 

• Massive oil and natural gas producing state 

• Oil and natural gas industries nationalized by state 

• Rentier State 

• Curse of oil 

• High corruption 

• Underdeveloped other sectors of economy 

OPEC Member State 

• One of major oil producers of OPEC

• Benefit from oil prices being manipulated by OPEC

• By being part of OPEC, Iran gives up some autonomy and sovereignty 

Environmental Problems in Iran 

• Massive air pollution in Iran, especially in Tehran 

Healthcare Challenges 

• Steady population growth rate creates challenges for state 

• Population growth was slowed due to allowing condom usage and state funded vasectomies 

• These policies were controversial to religious leaders 

Supporting Shia Causes in Region 

• State goal to support Shiism in Middle East and North Africa 

• Support Shia regimes, militias and terrorist groups with funding, intelligence and sometimes military support

• Very expensive and limits money that can be spent domestically 

• Has created proxy war with Sunni rival Saudi Arabia 

Nuclear Program 

• Nuclear program is sense of pride for nation but feared by global community for potential of a nuclear weapon

  • Desire nuclear technology for energy

    • Would allow more export of oil/natural gas 

  • Much of world believes it’s for nuclear weapons

  • Nuclear weapons would be great threat to Israel and Saudi Arabia

  • Nuclear weapons would help national defense by serving as a deterrent to interfering with the Iranian state

• 2015 Nuclear Deal 

  • First diplomatic work with US since the fall of the Shah 

  • Helped legitimize the regime internationally

  • Helped the economy because some economic sanctions were lifted