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How Iran's Government Works

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Last updated on: February 06, 2012 7:00 PM

Iran's system of government, known as the Islamic Republic, is an autocratic council/committee based system, in which councils and committees made up of religious elders, overseen by a council chosen by the Supreme Leader, give advice, counsel, and overall direction to the traditional branches of government and various government functions.

The graphic is explained in greater detail below.

Supreme Leader

Selected by Assembly of Experts for a life term
Sets Iran's domestic and foreign policies (including nuclear program)
Commands Iran's armed forces (including Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps), appoints/fires top military officials, declares war and peace
Makes final decision about eligible presidential candidates, election results and cabinet posts of defense, foreign affairs, information, culture/Islamic guidance
Appoints/fires heads of judiciary and state broadcasting

Guardian Council

Comprises 12 members who serve 6 year terms: 6 must be clerics, 6 must be jurists
Supreme Leader appoints 6 members, parliament appoints 6 members
Approves/rejects legislation passed by parliament
Approves/rejects candidates for president, parliament and elections

Parliament

Proposes, passes legislation for approval by Guardian Council
Consists of 290 members; membership to be increased to 310 for March 2012 election
Main coalitions include conservatives and reformists
May choose to impeach president
Approves/fires Cabinet ministers through confidence votes
Approves 6 out of 12 guardian council members recommended by Supreme Leader
Approves budget submitted by president

Assembly of Experts

Comprises 86 Islamic scholars elected by the public, screened for piety by Guardian Council
Selects Supreme Leader
Members serve 8-year terms; meet once every six months to review Supreme Leader's activities
In theory, can remove Supreme Leader in cases of incapacitation or corruption, though this is very unlikely

Expediency Council

Advises Supreme Leader on policy, seeks to resolve deadlocks between lawmakers and Guardian Council
Chaired by former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Comprises 35 members: 9 permanent, 26 ad hoc appointed by Supreme Leader
Permanent members include president, judiciary chief, speaker of parliament, and six clerical members of Guardian Council

President

Presidential candidates are vetted through councils, but ultimately the Supreme Leader will choose the final two candidates
Performs administrative role, rather than executive role as in other countries
Selects cabinet members, implements policies set by Supreme Leader and laws approved by parliament
Serves 4-year term, limited to two consecutive terms
If re-elected, can run for a third term after sitting one out
Proposes budget

Cabinet

Led by president
Assists president in implementing policies set by Supreme Leader and laws passed by parliament
Ministers appointed after winning approval in parliamentary confidence votes

National Security Council

Led by president
Implements national security policies set by Supreme Leader
Sets broad definitions of national security offenses

Cultural Revolution Council

Led by president
Sets Islamic principles for all educational organizations
Sets Islamic rules for permissible Internet content and printed materials

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