The Islamic Republic of Iran Governance and Policy-Making

Organization of the Iranian State Electorate Assembly of Religious Experts Guardian Council Islamic Majles President Chief Judge Expediency Council Supreme Leader X Elects Y This page in interactive – most boxes are buttons Appoints

Structure of the IRI

The Supreme Leader  Term Length: Life  Powers and Responsibilities: –“determine interests of Islam”, “supervise the implementation of general policy”, “set political guidelines”Mobilize armed forces, grant amnesty – Nominates: Chief Judge and Prosecutor, Guardian Council (6 of 12), Expediency Council (all), Imam Jum’ehs, many more – Removal of: Candidates to Majles, ARE, President, Chief Prosecutor and Judge, Lower Court Judges  Balance of Power: Assembly of Religious Experts (ARE), who also elect him.

Assembly of Religious Experts  Appointed by: Electorate (86)  Term Length: 4 Years  Requirement: Seminary Degree Equivalent to Masters  Powers and Responsibilities: –Right to Dismiss Supreme Leader if “mentally incapable of fulfilling his arduous duties”  Balance of Power: Supreme Leader, Guardian Council

Guardian Council  Appointed by: Leader (6) and Chief Judge (6) –Clerics and Jurists  Term Length: Life or Until Removed  Powers and Responsibilities: –Works to ensure Legislation Conforms to shari’a –Vetoes Majles Legislation (¾ vote) –Approves Candidates (President, ARE, and Majles)

Expediency Council  Appointed by: Supreme Leader (30) –Pres., Speaker of Majles, Chief Judge, Minister & Representative  Term Length: Under Leader’s Discretion (5 Years)  Powers and Responsibilities: –Resolves Majles-Guardian Council Disagreement –Interprets “Public Interest” and “Reasons of State”

A Powerful Judiciary  Uniquely Powerful  Narrow Reading of shari’a –Penalty for adultery, homosexuality, apostasy, habitual drinking –Sanctioned live burials, stoning, finger amputations –Male/Female, Muslim/non-Muslim,  State Intervention Needed –Appeals system, state courts (state interests priority over shari’a) – Modern Punishment

President  Elected by: Electorate  Term Length: 4 years, 2 term maximum  Internal Powers: –Propose legislation, select VP and cabinet ministers –Appoints sub-national senior officials, directors of public orgs.  National Iranian Oil, Electricity, Bank  External Powers: –Signs all international treaties, laws, and agreements –Responsible for defense matters –National Security

Last 4 Presidents Rafsanjani -Moderate, swung a bit right of center and now left of center Khatami -Reformer Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -Just right of Genghis Khan ? Hassan Rouhani -Moderate, so far... Next election

Bureaucracy  Over 1.5 million members  Important Ministries –Reconstruction  Social services, and “true Islam” to countryside –Heavy Industries  Manages nationalized factories –Culture & Islamic Guidance  Controls media and enforces “proper conduct” –Intelligence  Replaced SAVAK Semipublic Institutions  Foundations are directed by clerics appointed personally by Leader  Foundation for the Oppressed –Largest institution –Administers over 140 factories, 120 mines, 470 agribusinesses, and 100 construction companies –Owns country’s leading newspapers ( Ettela’at and Kayhan )

290 members Elected every four years 14% non-Muslim 8% women 2012 election: 500 registered to run, 3400 allowed by Guardian Council -60% Conservative -35% Reformers -2.5% Independent -Voter Turnout 66% The Majles – Iran’s Parliament

 All proposed legislation goes through Majles  Checked by Guardian Council for approval/adherence to the Koran  Sent back if unapproved  If corrections cannot be agreed upon, Expediency Council Intervention  Either rejection or compromise

Sub-National Government  Provinces, districts, sub-districts, townships, and villages –Provinces: Governors-general –Districts: Governors –Sub-districts: Lieutenant governors –Towns: Mayors –Villages: Headmen  Locally elected councils manage regional affairs –Management of local affairs in every faction will be under supervision from councils whose members elected by public

Statist Reformers  Lower Class Support  Redistribute Wealth  Eradicate Unemployment  Nationalize Enterprises  Finance Social Programs  Ration/Subsidize, Price Ceilings on Essential Goods WELFARE STATE  Democratic over Theocratic  Individual Rights, Rule of Law, Gov. Accountability Free-Market Conservatives  Middle Class Support  Lower Business Taxes  Encouraged Private Enterprise  Balancing the Budget  Even at the cost of subsidies and social programs

Post Khomeini Changes  Maslahat a Sunni concept  Institutionalized Expediency Council –Leader determines tenure –Meet in secret –No longer restricted to solving legislative differences Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei