POLITICAL SCIENCE Islamic Republic of Iran

POLITICAL SCIENCE { Islamic Republic of Iran

Short information The 18 th-largest country in the world – 1, 648, 195 km 2 Iran has a population of around 75 million. Density - 48/km 2 GDP per capita – $13 100 (2012) GDP per capita – Currency – Rial Capital – Tehran

Legislative branch Parliament Guardian Council Expediency Council

«Islamic Consultative Assembly» The Iranian Parliament or People's House. It is the national legislative body of Iran. The Parliament currently has 290 representatives Women were not allowed to vote or be elected to the Parliament until 1963, as part of reforms under the Shah's "White Revolution". Parliament candidates and all legislation from the assembly must be approved by the Council of Guardians. History: Before the Islamic Revolution, Majlis was also the name of the lower house of the Iranian Legislature from 1906 to 1979, the upper house being the Senate.

Conservatives (182) Reformists (75) Religious minorities (14) Independents (19) Parliament Structure: Seats

United Front of Conservatives Front of Islamic Revolution Stability People's Voice Monotheism and Justice Party Insight and Islamic Awakening Front Seats: 98 43 19 17 5 Rate: 34, 8% 14, 8% 6, 5% 5, 8% 1, 7% Conservatives Seats: 182 Rate 62, 8% «Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran» or «the Abadgaran»

Democratic Coalition of Reformists Labour Coalition Moderate Reformists Seats: 60 11 4 Rate: 20, 6% 3, 7% 1, 3% Reformists Seats: 75 Rate 25, 9% «the Reforms Front» or «The 2 nd of Khordad Movement»

Armenians Assyrian and Chaldean Jewish Zoroastrian Seats: 5 4 3 2 Rate: 1, 7% 1, 3% 1, 1% 0, 6% Religious Minorities Seats: 14 Rate 4, 8%

In politics, an independent or nonpartisan politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties. Sometimes they hold a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do not feel that any major party addresses. Independents Seats: 19 Rate 6, 5%

«The Guardian Council of the Constitution» The Guardian Council does not introduce bills. Bills are introduced in the Majlis; but any bill passed by the Majlis must be reviewed and approved by the Guardian Council The Majlis has no legal status without the Guardian Council. It can nullify a law based on two accounts: being against Islamic laws, or being against the constitution. The Guardian Council six Islamic faqihs • experts in Islamic Law six jurists • specializing in different areas of law If a law is rejected, it will be passed back to the Majlis for correction. If the Majlis and the Council of Guardians cannot decide on a case, it is passed up to the Expediency Council for a decision.

«Expediency Discernment Council» It is an administrative assembly appointed by the Supreme Leader and was created on the revision to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 6 February 1988. It was originally set up to resolve differences or conflicts between the Majlis and the Council of Guardians. On 14 March 2012, a new council was appointed for a five-year period.

Judicial system of Iran After the 1979 overthrow of the Pahlavi Dynasty by the Islamic Revolution, the system was greatly changed. The legal code is now based on Shi'a Islamic law or sharia, although many aspects of civil law have been retained, and it is integrated into a civil law legal system. According to the constitution of the Islamic Republic, the judiciary in Iran "is an independent power. " The entire legal system - "from the Supreme Court to regional courts, all the way down to local and revolutionary courts" - is under the purview of the Ministry of Justice The main building of Judicial system of Iran in Tehran.

President of Iran – the head of executive The President is the head of government. Functions of the executive include signing treaties and other agreements with foreign countries and international organizations; administering national planning, budget, and state employment affairs; and appointing ministers subject to the approval of Parliament. Unlike the executive in other countries, the President of Iran does not have full control over Iran's foreign policy, the armed forces, or nuclear policy, as these are ultimately under the control of the Supreme Leader. The current President of Iran is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Who was elected in 2005. Re-elected in 2009. The President of Iran is elected for a four-year term by the direct vote of the people and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.

Supreme Leader of Iran The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranking political and religious authority in the Republic The Supreme Leader is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, controls the military intelligence and security operations; and has sole power to declare war or peace. The heads of the judiciary, state radio and television networks. Sayyed Ali Khamenei held the position since 1989. The Assembly of Experts – is a consultative body of Mujtahids (Islamic scholars) which elects the Supreme Leader of Iran and supervising his activities. The Assembly has 86 seats.

References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Iran http: //homylafayette. blogspot. com "Iran Country Profile". BBC NEWS. Retrieved 8 August 2012. "Iran – The Council of Guardians". Countrystudies. us. Retrieved 18 June 2011. "Expediency council". BBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2008. http: //www. president. ir/en/ The official website of the Majlis of Iran http: //www. majlis. ir/ http: //mellat. majlis. ir/ Iran's parliament news service. Iran's