How National Government in Iran Works

by D. SEAN BAER

Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei

Where before the Revolution Iran was ruled by the Shah and an appointed Prime Minister, after the Revolution, the faqih became the primary figure of the state government. During the first several years of the post-Revolution era, until 1989, power was solely concentrated in the hands of the faqih, the Ayatollah Khomeini. After the death of Khomeini in 1989, Ali Khamenei was elected by the religious council to succeed him. Khamenei has preferred a less public role than Khomeini took, but he remains the central figure of the nation's politics.

The faqih is leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and secret services, head of the judiciary, and has the power to dismiss the President. As well as being the political leader of the country, the faqih is the most powerful figure in Iranian Shi'ism and therefore has the support of the religious institutions.

After the death of Khomeini, the former leader of the Majlis, Ali Rafsanjani, became President and with his skillful leadership enhanced the powers of the Presidency. Constitutional changes in 1989 brought a stronger executive branch and the abolition of most of the powers of the Prime Minister. The President, who would be chosen by popular election every four years, gained greater control over economic policy and development of the country. Most recently, in 1997, Muhammad Khatami defeated the Speaker of the Majlis (see below), Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, in a landslide victory.

The legislative branch of the Islamic Republic is composed of two parts: the Majlis, an elected parliamentary assembly; and the Council of Guardians, appointed by the faqih. The Majlis serves the purpose of other legislative bodies around the word- making law, ratifying treaties, and approving budgets. The Council of Guardians, composed of six members, serves as an "upper house" of Parliament, representing the social elite. The Council of Guardians reviews laws or bills passed by the Majlis and ascertains their conformance with Islamic canons and the Iranian Constitution. The Council of Guardians has the power to ratify, veto, or send back to the Majlis any legislative act.

The three elements of the Iranian state serve different functions and are expected to balance one another. However, the increased powers of the President, friction between the President's office and the Majlis, and the reticence of the present faqih, contribute to an uncertain situation.

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D. Sean Baer is a graduate student of political science at Humboldt State University.

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