Political System of Iran

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a constitutional, theocratic republic in which Shia Muslim clergy and political leaders vetted by the clergy dominate the key power structures. Government legitimacy is based on the twin pillars of popular sovereignty and the rule of the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution. The Iranian constitution outlines and defines the political, economic, and social structure of the country. The supreme leader of the Islamic Republic is the ruler and the Commander-in-Chief of the country. The current Iranian constitution was adopted on December 3, 1979, and was ratified on July 28, 1982. Even though the Iranian political system operates under the framework of a theocracy, there is a relatively high level of political freedom and democracy in Iran. Who is who in Iran’s government and how does this government function? Let’s find the answers:

THE SUPREME LEADER

In Iran’s complex and intertwined political system, the Supreme Leader has a very special status and is the highest authority in the country. The Leader, however, is equal to the rest of the people before the law. This is clearly stated in Article 107 of the Constitution. Accordingly, all civil, criminal, economic, taxation, military and other laws are as applicable to the Leader and the members of his family as they are for other people.

Qualifications

Article 109 of the Constitution provides that the Leader must have scholastic qualifications, show justice and piety, proper social and political insight, resourcefulness, courage, management ability and adequate capability to lead the nation.

Powers

According to Article 110 of the Constitution, the Leader has the responsibility and authority to determine general policies of the country, supervise the good performance of those policies, issue decrees for national referendums and pardon condemned persons or commute their sentence.

The Supreme Leader is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, controls Iran’s intelligence and security operations, and has the authority to declare war. Moreover, he has the power to appoint and dismiss the leaders of the judiciary, the state radio and television networks, and the supreme commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Besides, he has the power to appoint six members of the Council of Guardians.

So far, Iran has had two Supreme Leaders: the Ayatollah Khomeini (1979-1989) and the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (1989-present). The power of the Supreme Leader is not entirely unchecked. While the constitution has mandated an 86-member elected Assembly of Experts with the power to appoint and dismiss the Supreme Leader, Khamenei’s authority goes almost unchallenged.

THE PRESIDENT

As per Article 113 of the Iranian constitution, the President is the second highest official in the country,  after the Supreme Leader. The President has the responsibility for implementing the Constitution and acting as the head of the executive, except in matters directly concerned with (the office of) the Leadership.

While the president has a high public profile, however, his power is in many ways trimmed back by the constitution, which subordinates the entire executive branch to the Supreme Leader. In fact, Iran is the only state in which the executive branch does not control the armed forces.

Qualifications

Article 115 of the Constitution stipulates that the President shall be elected from among distinguished religious and political personalities of Iranian origin and nationality, and he shall be efficient and prudent with a good reputation and honesty. He should also be pious, faithful to the foundations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official religion of the country. To prevent misuse of public assets, Article 142 of the Constitution stipulates that the assets of the President and his family shall be examined immediately before and after their tenure to ensure that they have not increased unreasonably.

 Term

The president is elected directly by the people of Iran for a four-year term. He can serve no more than two consecutive terms but can be elected again after a break.

Powers

The president, as chief executive, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the country. He does not, however, determine the general guidelines of Iranian domestic and foreign policy, nor does he command the armed forces and security organs. He is responsible primarily for setting the country’s economic and social policies and plays the role of representing Iran internationally. His functions also include the signing of treaties with other nations, budget, administering national planning, state employment affairs, and appointing Cabinet Ministers with Parliament’s approval.

THE GUARDIAN COUNCIL

One of the most powerful forces in Iran’s government is the Guardian Council, which consists of twelve theologians, six of them are appointed by the Supreme Leader while six jurists are nominated by the judiciary and approved by parliament. Its members are elected for six years on a phased basis, so that half the membership changes every three years.

Powers

The body oversees the activities of Parliament and determines which candidates are qualified to run for public office. All legislation passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly must be sent to the Guardian Council which has the power to overturn if it is considered in violation of Iran’s constitution. This means that the council has effective veto power over Parliament. If it deems that a law passed by Parliament is incompatible with the constitution or sharia, it is referred back to Parliament for revision.

THE ASSEMBLY OF EXPERTS

Unlike the Supreme Leader and the Guardian Council, the Assembly of Experts is directly elected by the people of Iran. The assembly has 86 members, all clerics, who are elected for eight-year terms. Candidates for the assembly are vetted by the Guardian Council.

According to the Iranian constitution, the responsibilities of the Assembly of Experts are to appoint the Supreme Leader, monitor his performance and remove him if he is deemed incapable of fulfilling his duties or in case anything happens to him that prevents him from leading the nation.

PARLIAMENT (Majles)

The Iranian Parliament, called the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles), is a unicameral legislative body whose 290 members are publicly elected every four years. The Majles holds substantially less authority compared to non-elected bodies such as the Guardian Council or the Supreme Leader’s office. It has powers over the government budget, confirmation of cabinet ministers, and questioning of government officials over their performance. It drafts legislation, ratifies international treaties, and approves the country’s budget. The Parliament is held in check by the Guardian Council, whose members examine all laws passed by Parliament to determine their compatibility with Islamic law.

EXPEDIENCY COUNCIL

The Council is an advisory body for the Leader with an ultimate adjudicating power in disputes over legislation between the parliament and the Guardian Council. The Supreme Leader appoints its members, who are prominent religious, social and political figures.

SUPREME NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

Article 176 of Iran’s Constitution sets up the Supreme National Security Council, and charges it with “preserving the Islamic Revolution, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty.” Its members include: the president; speaker of Parliament; the head of the judiciary; the chief of the combined general staff of the armed forces; the ministers of foreign affairs, the interior, and intelligence; and the commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the regular military, among others.

As head of the Supreme National Security Council, the president helps coordinate the Supreme Leader’s foreign policy directives.

CONCLUSION

Due to its intricate set of checks and balances, the Iranian government can get bogged down in times of crisis. It includes a volatile mix of elected and appointed career politicians and Shia clerics, from ultra-conservative to reformist.
Altogether, Iran’s leadership is a fascinating case study in hybrid government — and the only functioning theocratic government on Earth today.