Iran Overview

History (not done)

Executive System

• Semi-Presidential 

  • Head of State: Supreme Leader

    • Most powerful political figure, chosen by clerics (Assembly of Experts)

    • Ensures laws conform to Islam, leading Islamic jurist

    • Appointed for life

  • Head of Gov: President

    • 4 year terms, 8 consecutive years term limit

    • Directly elected

    • Candidates approved by GC but all have universal suffrage

      • Elections have been accused of fraudulent as candidates can be easily disqualified + voter fraud

    • May select “presidential deputies” (VPs)

      • Takes over for president when president is incapacitated (if permitted by SL)

      • Not gender biased

  • Legislature/Parliament: Majlis - no upper/lower house (in theory)

    • Guardian Council acts as upper house

  • Judicial Body: Supreme Court

  • Assembly of Religious Experts

    • Directly elected by people

    • 8 year terms

    • Approved by Guardian Council, vetted to exclude reformers/critics

    • Only constitutional body w/ authority to appoint/dismiss supreme leader (In theory)

    • Has served as rubber stamp (in practice)

  • Guardian Council

    • 6 clerical members (appointed by SL), 6 lay members (lawyers recommended by head of judiciary, approved by Majles)

    • Determines who can run in all elections

    • Can veto legislation passed by Majles if opposes tenets of Islam

    • Operates like upper house

  • Expediency Council

    • Members appointed by SL

    • Includes President, chief judge, speaker of Majles, jurists from GC

    • 5 year terms

    • Settles disputes between Majles and GC

    • May originate own legislation

  • Bureaucracy

    • Headed by President but dominated by clergy

    • Ministries

      • Culture + Islamic Guidance - controls media, enforces proper conduct

      • Intelligence

      • Heavy Industries - manages nationalized factors

      • Reconstruction - expansion of social services, takes “true Islam” to rural areas

• Unitary Power

• Theocracy

Legislative Body

• Theocracy

• Majles = elected house (parliament)

  • Unicameral

  • Power of the purse (in theory)

  • Cabinet selected by President

    • Acts under supervision of Guardian Council (ensure Islam followed)

  • Candidates vetted by GC

    • Submit names to GC to determine if can run

    • Must have uni equivalent degree

    • 30-75

    • Can move to remove cabinet members but not president

    • Approve budget cabinet appts, treaties, loans

  • 290 deputies, 4 year terms

    • 5 seats for recognized religious minorities (Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrians)

      • Non-recognized religious minorities cannot run for office

  • NOT rubber stamp

    • Can’t be super progressive etc but

• Expediency Council

  • Selected by SL as advisory committee

  • Resolve disputes between Majles and Guardian Council

• Guardian council

  • Vets candidates, oversees Majles

  • Half law experts, half experts in religious tenets

• Elections

  • No political parties but can have factions

    • Relative progressive factions (in scope of what is allowed Iran)

  • Single Member District vs Multiple Member District

    • SMD: Candidate with highest share of vote. Run off possible if many with +25%

    • MMD: Voters vote for multiple seats. Run off possible with many members of +25% votes

  • 2 round voting

    • Candidate must receive min 25%

    • 2nd round help many months later

      • Run off vote only includes those with +25%

Judiciary

• On paper, independent power.

• Ensures legal system follows Sharia Law

• Head of branch is appointed by Supreme Leader

  • Head Jurist “appoints” lawyers (all goes back to SL), SL appoints everyone else

• Types of Laws

  • Sharia

    • Islamic law

    • Considered foundation of Islamic

    • civilization

    • Supersedes all other laws

    • SL authority/Jurist’s guardianship based on importance of Sharia

  • Qanun

    • Muslim jurists have shaped it over time - idea of common law

    • No sacred bias

    • Statutes passed my Majles

    • “The People’s Law”

    • Can never contradict Sharia

      • GC and SL must ensure all laws apply interpretations of Sharia

• No independent courts, 3 types

  • Criminal

  • Civil

  • Revolutionary

• Evidence from 1 male muslim = Evidence of 2 female muslim

• High number of executions, harsh penalties

Military

• Islamic revolutionary Guard corps (special military)

  • Commanders directly appointed by SL

  • Personal military of SL

  • Veryyyyyyy wealthy, likely corrupt

  • Control ~1/3 of Iran’s economy through subsidiaries and trusts

• Artash (general military)

  • Defends borders (outside) while revolutionary guards protect the republic (inside)

  • Head of state = commander in chief = SL

  • Conscription at age 18