Jonah Patel
Iran is a unitary Islamic republic with a mixed system of government, in which the executive, parliament, and judiciary are overseen by several bodies dominated by the clergy. The 1979 Constitution established the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, officially called the Supreme Leadership Authority in Iran, as the ultimate authority. The Supreme Leader is a ranking cleric, also known as the rahbar or leader, and functions as the head of state. The duties and authority of the Supreme Leader are outlined in Articles 107, 109, 110, and 111 of the Constitution, which include delineating the general policies of the Islamic Republic, serving as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, and appointing the General Staff of the Armed Forces. The Supreme Leader also appoints the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the only radio and television service in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ultimate authority | Senior religious jurists (marja') |
| Khomeini (until 1989) | |
| Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (since 1989) | |
| The rahbar, or leader | |
| The faqīh, or jurist in Islamic canon law | |
| The Supreme Leader | |
| The president |
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The Supreme Leader
The Islamic Republic of Iran is a unitary Islamic republic with a mixed system of government. The country's 1979 constitution established a system in which the executive, parliament, and judiciary are overseen by several bodies dominated by the clergy. At the pinnacle of this system is the Supreme Leader, officially known as the Supreme Leadership Authority. This position is established by Article 5 of the Iranian constitution, in accordance with the concept of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist.
The Iranian constitution also establishes the role of the president, who is the head of the executive branch and is elected by universal adult suffrage. The president must be a native-born Iranian Shi'i. The president selects the Council of Ministers for approval by the legislature and oversees a wide range of government offices and organisations. The president also appoints some members of the Committee to Determine the Expediency of the Islamic Order and chairs the Supreme Council for National Security.
The Guardian Council, a part of the legislature, acts as an upper house to the Islamic Consultative Assembly, reviewing legislation to ensure its compatibility with Islam and the Constitution. The Guardian Council is composed of twelve members, half of whom are Islamic canon law specialists appointed by the Supreme Leader, and the other half civil jurists nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council and appointed by the Majles.
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The Legislature
The Guardian Council, on the other hand, acts as an upper house to the Islamic Consultative Assembly. This council is made up of 12 members, half of whom are faqihs (specialists in Islamic canon law) chosen by the Supreme Leader, and the other half are jurists elected by the Islamic Consultative Assembly from among the Muslim jurists nominated by the Chief Justice of Iran. The council reviews the legislation passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly to examine its compatibility with Islam and the Constitution. If the council finds that a piece of legislation is not compliant with the Constitution or Islamic law, it may strike it down or return it to the assembly with revisions.
In addition to the national-level legislature, Iran's constitution also provides for local councils at the village, division, city, municipality, and provincial levels. These councils are responsible for supervising the administration of their respective localities and are elected by the people of those localities.
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The Executive
Iran's constitution establishes a mixed system of government, with the executive, parliament, and judiciary overseen by several bodies dominated by the clergy. The ultimate authority in the country is the Supreme Leader, a ranking cleric known as the rahbar, or leader, whose duties and authority are usually equated with a head of state.
The President is the second-highest official in the country, after the Supreme Leader. The President is the highest popularly elected official, though they answer to the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader, in turn, delineates the general policies of the Islamic Republic and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The Supreme Leader also appoints the general staff of the Armed Forces and the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the country's only radio and television service.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) is supervised by a council consisting of representatives of the President, the head of the judiciary, and the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The Islamic Consultative Assembly is the legislature of the Islamic Republic and is constituted by the representatives of the people, elected directly and by secret ballot. The Assembly can establish laws on all matters within the limits of its competence as laid down in the Constitution.
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The Judiciary
The Iranian Constitution establishes a mixed system of government, where the executive, parliament, and judiciary are overseen by several bodies dominated by the clergy. The ultimate authority rests with the Supreme Leader, a ranking cleric, whose role is outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution. The Supreme Leader is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and delineates the general policies of the Islamic Republic.
The functions of the judiciary are to be performed by courts of justice, which are to be formed according to Islamic criteria. These courts are responsible for examining and settling lawsuits, protecting the rights of the public, dispensing and enacting justice, and implementing the Divine limits.
The Iranian judiciary system is characterized by the presence of multiple councils and assemblies that work together to administer justice and ensure compliance with Islamic principles and the Constitution. One such body is the Guardian Council, which acts as an upper legislative house. The Guardian Council is composed of twelve members, half of whom are specialists in Islamic canon law (faqihs) appointed by the Supreme Leader, and the other half civil jurists nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council and appointed by the Majles. This council plays a crucial role in reviewing legislation passed by the Majles, ensuring that it aligns with both the Constitution and Islamic law.
Another important aspect of the judiciary is the Islamic Consultative Assembly, which is constituted by the representatives of the people elected directly and by secret ballot. This assembly can establish laws on matters within its competence as outlined in the Constitution. Additionally, the assembly plays a role in appointing the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, along with the President and the head of the judiciary branch.
The Iranian Constitution also outlines specific rights and protections for individuals. For example, it prohibits torture and coerced confessions, guaranteeing that any testimony or confession obtained under duress is devoid of value and credence. It also establishes the right to housing, stipulating that the government must make land available to provide housing commensurate with individuals' needs, prioritizing those in rural areas and workers.
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The President
Iran is a unitary Islamic republic with a mixed system of government, in which the executive, parliament, and judiciary are overseen by several bodies dominated by the clergy. The President of Iran is the second-highest official in the government and the head of the executive branch. The President is the highest nominally popularly elected official in Iran, although he answers to the Supreme Leader, who functions as the country's head of state. The President is elected by universal adult suffrage and must be a native-born Iranian Shi'i.
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Frequently asked questions
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, officially the Supreme Leadership Authority in Iran, is the highest authority in the country.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the first Supreme Leader of Iran, holding the position from the 1979 Iranian Revolution until his death in 1989.
The Supreme Leader delineates the general policies of the Islamic Republic and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary systems operate under the supervision of the Supreme Leader.
