No claims are made regarding the accuracy of iran government 2020 information contained here. How irans government works voice of america english. The islamic republic of irans complex government thoughtco. Irans system of government, known as the islamic republic, is an. The country is governed by secular and religious leaders and governing bodies, and duties often overlap. Islamic republic of irans strategic culture and national. To this end, it has enacted protectionist measures and trade policies to iraqs disadvantage, tried. Government is elected but from a special group of people related to the governance, governance claims to be elected but indeed not. Government of iran the december 1979 iranian constitution defines the political, economic, and social order of the islamic republic. Iran is a republic in which the president, parliament majles and judicial system share powers reserved to the national government, according to its constitution. This could start a new arms race in the middle east.
Yet despite the international attention receives, iran defies straightforward characterisation and. In the excerpt found on the top right sidebar, mohammad javad ardashir larijani explains why he views iran s government as a democratic structure based on islamic rationality, and what exactly that means. The islamic revolutionary guard corps irgc is tasked with preserving the islamic republic of iran and the ideals of the 1979 revolution. Additional government institutions in iran include the assembly of experts, the expedience discernment council, and the city and village councils of iran. As of 1987, iran was divided into twentyfour provinces ostans. The presidency, just one part of iran s interwoven bureaucracy, is the. Library of congress federal research division country profile. Political system political system the structure of government. The irgc combines traditional military roles with a relentless focus on supposed domestic enemies. After the islamic revolution became victorious iranians designed a structure of governance which would.
The text can help students understand how iran in the government s eyes is a hybrid of a theocracy and democracy. Giles, an american scholar who has studied the iranian system of government, writes that an informal four rings of power pdf permeate the formal government structure. Iran is a republic in which the president, parliament majles and judicial system share powers. The constitution of the islamic republic of iran provides a solid foundation and a structure for a democratic and islamic government built on the ruins of the former despotic monarchic regime. Populism, a product of the revolution, helped ayatollah khomeini to rule iran for a decade with absolute power.
At this time, the constitution of the islamic republic of iran, as an articulation of the political, social, cultural, and economic relations and institutions of the society, was to open the way for af. Though to the rest of the world, iran seems to have an undemocratic system of government, irans political structure is, in fact, democratic, though intermixed with elements of theocracy. The structure of power in iran supreme leader at the top of iran s power structure is the supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei, who succeeded ayatollah rouhollah khomeini, the father of the iranian revolution, upon ayatollah khomeinis death in 1989. The countrys 1979 constitution put into place a mixed system of government, in which the executive, parliament, and judiciary are overseen by several bodies dominated by the clergy. Iranians went to polling stations friday to select a new leader from six presidential candidates.
The structure of power in iran supreme leader at the top of irans power structure is the supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei, who succeeded ayatollah rouhollah khomeini, the father of the iranian revolution, upon ayatollah khomeinis death in 1989. Iran islamic republic ofs constitution of 1979 with. In part, this is due to the intrinsic complexity of iran s system, which some argue is due to the combination of modern institutions like the majles and assembly of experts with premo. Commentary, text and context, reprint by iran times international washington, dc. Abstract since the1979 revolution, iran has experienced two nonclass power structurespopulism and clientelism. The islamic republic of iran iri has a strategic culture that is a confluence of and contestation between history, ideology, religion and modernity. Finally, the rivers of iran, racing swiftly through. The islamic republics power centers council on foreign relations. Islamic republic of irans strategic culture and national security analysis. Irans government structure theocratic republic aka. Iran, may 2008 3 in november 1979, students affiliated with the latter group occupied the u. Therefore, disenchanted with statesponsored reforms, iranian society seems to be moving towards pragmatism and utilitarianism, while the political power.
Iran today structure of governance in the islamic republic of iran. The irgc is irans primary instrument for exporting the ideology of the islamic revolution worldwide. Archived pdf from the original on 21 december 2011. Meanwhile, iran formed a coalition with saudi arabia, tunisia, which later became the organization of islamic conference and joined opec. Iran today structure of governance in the islamic republic. Coat of arms of islamic republic of iran index of economic freedom grades each country on a scale of 0 to 100, based on ten freedoms, with 100 representing the greatest amount of economic autonomy from government intervention. The new theocratic government structure was complex and. This page provides iran government revenues actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
This page provides iran government budget actual values, historical data, forecast, chart. The ensuing grand and bloody revolution of the muslim. Secret documents show how tehran wields power in iraq. Yet despite the international attention receives, iran defies straightforward characterisation and easy explanation.
To this extent, many of irans foreign policy actions are similar to those undertaken by the shah of iran and prior iranian dynasties. The presidency, just one part of irans interwoven bureaucracy, is the. Iran is a unitary islamic republic with one legislative house. Irans system of government is not quite a democracy, nor a theocracy. Pdf elections and political system in iran ips situational brief. Each province was subdivided into several counties shahrestans. By research fellow gabriela billini iran s government structure can be difficult for foreigners to understand. The structure of power in the islamic republic wilfried buchta. The power structure of the islamic republic of iran. In view of the nature of the popular and broadbased movement of the iranian. Iran government budget 19902019 data 20202022 forecast. In part, this is due to the intrinsic complexity of irans system, which some argue is due to the combination of modern institutions like the majles and assembly of experts with premodern ones like the supreme leader. Religion and politics in iran council on foreign relations.
Iran islamic republic of s constitution of 1979 with amendments through 1989. The president is the highest popularly elected official in iran, although the president answers to the supreme leader of iran, who functions as the countrys head of state. After the islamic revolution became victorious iranians designed a structure of governance which would both guarantee. 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. This estimate does assume that the strategic goals and basic structure of irans senior leadership and government will remain. Irgc islamic revolutionary guard corps counter extremism. At the top of irans power structure is the supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei, who. The early days of the revolutionary government were characterized by political tumult. After the islamic revolution became victorious iranians designed a structure of governance which would both guarantee democracy and respect peoples.
It declares that shia islam of the twelver jaafari sect is iran s official religion. News, opinion and commentary regional focusarea studies shiah. Government of the islamic republic of iran wikipedia. A parliament, for example, may be an important and effective part of a political system. Shahrestans numbered 195, each of which was centered on the largest town within its boundaries. Since the united states is the sole source of international pressure against irans government, then united states that can help guide irans future. Political system the structure of government britannica. Soon, the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism will be free to sell weapons to anyone, and china, russia, and others will be able to sell tanks, missiles, air defense equipment, and other dangerous weapons to the iranian regime. This distinguishes it from other theocracies, the last of which was pre1959 tibet. Iran s system of government, known as the islamic republic, is an. The judiclary is an independent branch whose powers and responsibilities include administration and implementation of justice, supervision on the proper enforcement of the law, of the promotion of legitimate freedoms, protection of individual and public rights, providing due process for the resolution of judicial disputes, and investigation, prosecution, and punishment of. Khomeini and khamenei are the only two men to have held the office.
The study of governmental structures must be approached with great caution, for political systems having the same kind of legal arrangements and using the same type of governmental machinery often function very differently. Iran recorded a government budget deficit equal to 4. The political regime of the islamic republic of iran in. Though to the rest of the world, iran seems to have an undemocratic system of government, iran s political structure is, in fact, democratic, though intermixed with elements of theocracy. Irans political, demographic, and economic vulnerabilities. The politics of iran take place in a framework that officially combines elements of theocracy and presidential democracy. Jun 09, 2009 in practice, however, presidential powers are circumscribed by the clerics and conservatives in iran s power structure, and by the authority of the supreme leader.
Relaxing the unilateral economic sanctions is one of many actions that start the process of reform in iran. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about iran government 2020 should be addressed to the cia or the source cited on each page. It declares that shia islam of the twelver jaafari sect is irans official religion. Below is a brief overview of the key components of iran s government and political system. In the excerpt found on the top right sidebar, mohammad javad ardashir larijani explains why he views irans government as a democratic structure based on islamic rationality, and what exactly that means.
This lesson explains the government of iran, starting with the supreme leader and. This page provides iran government revenues actual values, historical data. On april 1, 1979, the kingdom of iran became the islamic republic of iran after a national referendum. In view of the nature of the popular and broadbased movement of. Below is a brief overview of the key components of irans government and political system. Irans government structure can be difficult for foreigners to understand. Jun 20, 2019 additional government institutions in iran include the assembly of experts, the expedience discernment council, and the city and village councils of iran.
In practice, however, presidential powers are circumscribed by the clerics and conservatives in irans power structure, and by the authority of the supreme leader. The islamic republic of iran has struggled with its primary political identity since the 1979 revolution. Article 110 of irans constitution pdf outlines the positions major authorities. The oil revolution between 1973 and 1978 led iran to acquire a socially responsible. At the top of iran s power structure is the supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei, who succeeded ayatollah ruhollah khomeini, the father of the iranian revolution, upon khomeinis death in 1989. Constitutional theocracy the islamic assembly is irans version of a congress however it is unicameral. From them also, thrust up in the wake of the volcanic activity of late pliocene times, came diorite and obsidian, both highly prized in antiquity. In the islamic republic of iran, president is the second person of government and the head of government. At the top of iran s power structure is the supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei, who. It is the supreme leader, not the president, who controls the armed forces and makes decisions on security, defence and major foreign policy issues. The new theocratic government structure was complex and included a mixture of elected and unelected officials.
Iran has not backed islamist movements in the central asian countries because these states and their islamist movements are sunni muslim and threats to iran. Pdf the power structure of the islamic republic of iran. The members of this assembly are elected, but all candidates for office including the president have to be approved by the guardian council. Inside iran the structure of power in iran terror and.