Iranian Government in a Nutshell

As a result of the political unrest in Iran, their government and leadership has come to the forefront of the global stage. The structure of the Iranian theocracy is so different from that of the governments in Europe and the United States that it can be hard to fully understand the way it all works. I have taken a few comparative government classes, and using this knowledge I decided to compile an article that can explain at least the very basics of the inner workings of the Iranian government.

The major positions in the executive branch are that of the Supreme Leader, the President, the Assembly of Experts, and the Guardian Council. The Supreme Leader is the most powerful position. He ensures that laws conform to Islam, and he has the authority to overrule, and even dismiss, the president. He also appoints 6 of the 12 members of the Guardian Council, the top echelons of the military, and the Chief Judge of the judiciary. The Supreme Leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts and serves for life. It used to be that the person chosen was the highest-ranking clergy member, though this changed in 1989 to be the most charismatic high-ranking clergyman. The president serves a 4 year term, with a 2 consecutive term limit. He chooses his cabinet, presents legislation, and is entrusted with upholding the constitution and coordinating government actions. He is elected through universal suffrage, though he must be a well-known Shiite. He, obviously, has far less power than the Supreme Leader. The Assembly of Experts is an 86-member body that evaluates and elects the Supreme Leader. Its members are popularly elected, and it is overwhelmingly made up of clerics (this is because they must first pass a test of Islam). The Guardian Council is a 12-member body with veto power over legislation (much like the upper house of the British parliament). The 6 members chosen by the Supreme Leader are clerics, and they evaluate laws according to Islamic principles. The remaining 6 are lawyers that have been recommended by the Chief Judge and approved by parliament; it is there job to evaluate the constitutionality of legislation.

The Majlis, the Iranian parliament, contains 290 seats, each occupied by a member who has been elected through universal suffrage. Each member serves a 4 year term. There is only 1 house in parliament. The Majlis can investigate the actions of cabinet ministers, affairs of state, and public complaints against the executive and judicial branches. They can remove cabinet ministers through a vote of no confidence (though this does not remove the president), and they can provide their own members with immunity from arrest. They can withhold approval for budgets, loans, treaties, and cabinet appointments, and they can laws that oppose divine laws as long as the Guardian Council allows them. Also the Majlis can interpret legislation so long as they don't contradict judicial authority.

Hope that this information clears up any questions you may have had about the Iranian government. If you still have some questions that I may be able to help with, feel free to leave a comment.