Jonah Patel
The Islamic Republic of Iran has a written constitution that was approved by referendum on 2 and 3 December 1979, with amendments made in 1989. The constitution sets out the cultural, social, political, and economic institutions of Iranian society, based on Islamic principles and norms. It establishes the roles of the Leader, the President, and other officials, outlining their responsibilities and powers. The constitution also addresses the rights and freedoms of citizens, including those of recognised religious minorities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran |
| Year | 1979 with amendments in 1989 |
| Basis | Islamic principles and norms |
| Institutions | Political, social, cultural, and economic |
| Leader | Highest public official |
| President | Highest-ranking official after the Leader |
| President's term | Four years with one consecutive re-election |
| President's qualifications | Iranian origin, Iranian nationality, managerial capabilities, ingenuity, a clean record, trustworthiness, piety, and belief in the tenets of the Islamic Republic of Iran |
| President's oath | To guard the official religion, the order of the Islamic Republic, and the Constitution |
| President's responsibilities | To implement the Constitution and act as the head of the Executive Branch |
| Vice-Presidents and Cabinet Ministers | Can attend open sessions of the Majlis |
| Legislative power | Islamic Shura Majlis |
| Legislative limits | Cannot pass laws contradicting the principles and rules of the official religion or the Constitution |
| Judiciary | Head of Judiciary must be an Islamic legal cleric |
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What You'll Learn
- The Islamic Republic of Iran's Constitution was approved by referendum on December 2 and 3, 1979
- The President of Iran must take an oath to guard the official religion, the Islamic Republic, and the Constitution
- The President is the highest-ranking official after the Leader and is responsible for implementing the Constitution
- The Islamic Shura Majlis can't pass laws that contradict the principles and rules of the official religion or the Constitution
- Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are recognised as religious minorities with the freedom to perform their religious rites
The Islamic Republic of Iran's Constitution was approved by referendum on December 2 and 3, 1979
The Constitution establishes the role of the Leader as the highest public official in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The President, as the highest-ranking official after the Leader, is responsible for implementing the Constitution and heading the Executive Branch. The President is elected by popular vote for a four-year term and can only be re-elected once consecutively. The President must be of Iranian origin and nationality, with specific qualifications, including managerial capabilities, trustworthiness, and piety.
The President, Vice-Presidents, and Cabinet Ministers have the right to attend the open sessions of the Majlis and may be accompanied by their advisors. The Islamic Shura Majlis can legislate within the limits set by the Constitution and cannot pass laws that contradict the principles of the official religion or the Constitution itself. The Shura-ye Negahban ensures that laws adhere to Islamic criteria.
The Head of Judiciary, who holds considerable power, must be an Islamic legal cleric (mujtahid), as must the President of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General. Six out of twelve members of the Guardian Council are appointed by the Leader and have the power to veto legislation from Parliament if it conflicts with Sharia law.
The Constitution also recognises Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians as religious minorities, granting them the freedom to perform their religious rites and ceremonies and act according to their beliefs in personal affairs and religious education. It further states that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and all Muslims must treat non-Muslims with fairness and in accordance with ethical norms and Islamic justice.
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The President of Iran must take an oath to guard the official religion, the Islamic Republic, and the Constitution
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the country's supreme law. It was adopted by referendum on 2 and 3 December 1979, with 99% voting in favour. The Constitution has been amended once, on 28 July 1989, and consists of 177 articles in 14 chapters.
The Constitution sets out the political, social, cultural, and economic institutions of Iranian society, based on Islamic principles and norms. It establishes the country as a hybrid regime of theocratic and democratic elements. Notably, the Constitution mandates popular elections for the presidency and the Majlis, or parliament.
The President of Iran is the highest-ranking official in the country after the Leader. The President is responsible for implementing the Constitution and leading the Executive Branch, except in matters directly related to the Leadership. The President is elected by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for only one consecutive term.
Before assuming office, the President must take an oath to uphold and safeguard the values and principles enshrined in the Constitution. This includes a commitment to guarding the official religion, the Islamic Republic, and the Constitution. The oath, as outlined in Article 121 of the Constitution, is as follows:
> "In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, I, as President, swear, in the presence of the Noble Qur'an and the people of Iran, by God, the Exalted and Almighty, that I will guard the official religion of the country, the order of the Islamic Republic and the Constitution of the country; that I will devote all my capacities and abilities to the fulfilment of the responsibilities that I have assumed; that I will dedicate myself to the service of the people, the honour of the country, the propagation of religion and morality, and the support of truth and justice, refraining from every kind of arbitrary behaviour; that I will protect the freedom and dignity of all citizens and the rights that the Constitution has accorded the people; that in guarding the frontiers and the political, economic, and cultural independence of the country I will not shirk any necessary measure; that, seeking help from God and following the Prophet of Islam and the infallible Imams (peace be upon them)..."
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The President is the highest-ranking official after the Leader and is responsible for implementing the Constitution
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, following the Islamic Revolution, and was amended in 1989. It sets out the cultural, social, political, and economic institutions of Iranian society, based on Islamic principles and norms.
The President of Iran is the head of government and the second-highest-ranking official in the country, after the Supreme Leader. The President is responsible for implementing the Constitution and acting as the head of the Executive Branch, except in matters directly related to the Leadership. The President is elected by direct popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for only one consecutive term. The President must be of Iranian origin and nationality, with managerial capabilities, a clean record, trustworthiness, and piety. They must also have a strong belief in the tenets of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the country's official religion.
The President must take an oath to uphold the Constitution and the official religion of the country. This oath is taken in the presence of the head of the judicial power, the members of the Guardian Council, and the people of Iran. The President has the right to attend the open sessions of the Majlis, along with the Vice-Presidents and Cabinet Ministers. The Islamic Shura Majlis can legislate on matters within the limits set by the Constitution and ensure that laws do not contradict the principles of the official religion or the Constitution.
The President of Iran does not have full control over the government, as the country is ultimately under the direct control of the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader holds all the power and the President answers to them, executing their decrees. The Supreme Leader is the highest political and religious authority in Iran and has control over key government organizations, including the armed forces, judiciary, and state media. The President must gain the Supreme Leader's approval before being sworn into office, and the Supreme Leader has the power to dismiss the President if they are found guilty of constitutional violations or are impeached by Parliament.
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The Islamic Shura Majlis can't pass laws that contradict the principles and rules of the official religion or the Constitution
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, with amendments made in 1989. It sets out the political, social, cultural, and economic institutions of Iranian society, based on Islamic principles and norms.
The Islamic Shura Majlis is a legislative body in Iran with the power to pass laws. However, it is restricted in its law-making capacity by the requirement that its laws must not contradict the principles and rules of the official religion or the Constitution. This is in keeping with the Islamic nature of the Iranian government and the aspiration of the Islamic Revolution.
The Shura-ye Negahban, or Guardian Council, is responsible for ensuring that the laws passed by the Islamic Shura Majlis do not contradict the principles and rules of the official religion or the Constitution. The Shura-ye Negahban is composed of twelve members, six of whom are appointed by the Leader, who is the highest public official in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Head of the Judiciary, who has considerable power, must be an Islamic legal cleric, as must be the President of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General. The Leader also appoints six fuqaha, or Islamic jurists, to the Shura-ye Negahban, while the remaining six members are elected by the Islamic Shura Majlis from among Muslim jurists introduced by the Head of the Judiciary.
The Islamic Shura Majlis plays a crucial role in the legislative process, as government bills must be submitted to it for approval after being approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. It also has the power to interpret ordinary laws, although this does not preclude the prosecutor's interpretation of the law in determining the truth.
In conclusion, the Islamic Shura Majlis's ability to pass laws that contradict the principles and rules of the official religion or the Constitution is restricted by the presence of the Shura-ye Negahban, which is tasked with ensuring that the laws passed are in accordance with Islamic principles and the Constitution. This reflects the Islamic nature of the Iranian government and the desire to safeguard the rules of Islam in the legislative process.
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Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are recognised as religious minorities with the freedom to perform their religious rites
Iran's constitution, established in 1979, sets forth the cultural, social, political, and economic institutions of Iranian society based on Islamic principles and norms. While the official religion of Iran is Shia Islam, Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are recognised as religious minorities.
These three religious minorities are free to perform their religious rites and ceremonies and to form religious societies. They are also permitted to address personal affairs and religious education according to their religious canon. The constitution bars discrimination based on race, gender, disability, language, and social status, but only "in conformity with Islamic criteria".
Zoroastrians, who were once the dominant religion in Iran, are free to make their annual pilgrimage to one of their holiest sites, the temple of Chak-Chak, near the city of Yazd. There are currently around 25,000 Zoroastrians in Iran, according to Zoroastrian groups and the government-run Statistical Center of Iran, though the 2020 World Religion Database estimates this number to be 64,000.
The Jewish community in Iran numbers approximately 9,000, according to the Tehran Jewish Committee, though a member of the community put the number at 20,000 during a 2021 visit to the United States. There is one seat reserved for a member of the Jewish faith in the majlis, or parliament.
The Christian population in Iran is estimated to be between 300,000 and 370,000, with the largest group being Armenian Christians, who have between 110,000 and 300,000 adherents. There are two seats reserved for Armenian Christians in the majlis, and one for Assyrian and Chaldean Christians together. There are many hundreds of Christian churches in Iran, with at least 600 being active.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Iran has a written constitution.
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran was written in 1979, with amendments made in 1989.
The Leader is the highest-ranking official in Iran, followed by the President.
The President of Iran is responsible for implementing the Constitution and acting as the head of the Executive Branch. They are elected by direct popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for only one consecutive term.
