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Iran
Government and Politics
THE IRANIAN ISLAMIC REVOLUTION of 1979 resulted in the replacement
of the monarchy by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The inspiration
for the new government came from Ayatollah Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi
Khomeini, who first began formulating his concept of an Islamic
government in the early 1970s, while in exile in the Shia Islam
learning and pilgrimage center of An Najaf in Iraq. Khomeini's
principal objective was that government should be entrusted to
Islamic clergy (see Glossary) who had been appropriately trained
in Islamic theology and jurisprudence. He referred to this ideal
government as a velayat-e faqih, or the guardianship
of the religious jurist. Khomeini did not, however, elaborate
concrete ideas about the institutions and functions of this ideal
Islamic government. The translation of his ideas into a structure
of interrelated governmental institutions was undertaken by the
special Assembly of Experts, which drafted the Constitution of
the Islamic Republic during the summer and fall of 1979. Subsequently,
this Constitution was ratified by popular vote in December 1979.
The political institutions established under the Constitution
have been in the process of consolidation since 1980. These institutions
have withstood serious challenges, such as the impeachment and
removal from office of the first elected president and the assassination
of the second one; the assassination of a prime minister, several
members of the cabinet, and deputies of the parliament, or Majlis
(see Glossary); an effort to overthrow the government by armed
opposition; and a major foreign war. By 1987 the constitutional
government's demonstrated ability to survive these numerous crises
inspired confidence among the political elite.
At the top of the government structure is the faqih
(see Glossary), the ultimate decision maker. The Constitution
specifically names Khomeini as the faqih for life and
provides a mechanism for choosing his successors. The role of
the faqih has evolved into that of a policy guide and
arbitrator among competitive views. Below the faqih a
distinct separation of powers exists between the executive and
legislative branches. The executive branch includes an elected
president, who selects a prime minister and cabinet that must
be approved by the elected legislative assembly, the Majlis. The
judiciary is independent of both the executive and the Majlis.
Until 1987 the government was dominated by a single political
party, the Islamic Republican Party (IRP). Other political parties
were permitted as long as they accepted the Constitution and the
basic principles of velayat-e faqih. In practice, however,
few other political parties have been permitted to operate legally
since 1981. Most of the political parties that were formed in
the immediate aftermath of the Revolution have disbanded, gone
underground, or continued to operate in exile.
The Constitution stipulates that the government of the Republic
derives its legitimacy from both God and the people. It is a theocracy
in the sense that the rulers claim that they govern the Muslim
people of Iran as the representatives of the divine being and
the saintly Twelve Shia Imams (see Glossary). The people have
the right to choose their own leaders, however, from among those
who have demonstrated both religious expertise and moral rectitude.
At the national level this is accomplished through parliamentary
and presidential elections scheduled at four-year intervals. All
citizens who have attained sixteen years of age are eligible to
vote in these elections. There are also local elections for a
variety of urban and rural positions.
Data as of December 1987
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