Iran · Government
Government and administration in Iran
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Supreme authority — Supreme Leader
- Selected and supervised by the Assembly of Experts; appoints the head of the judiciary.
- Executive — President and Council of Ministers
- Directly elected from candidates vetted by the Guardian Council.
- Legislative — Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis)
- 290 members; enactments require Guardian Council approval.
- Review — Guardian Council and Expediency Discernment Council
- Vet legislation and candidates; resolve legislative deadlock.
- Judicial — Head of the Judiciary
- Appointed by the Supreme Leader; nominates the Supreme Court president and Prosecutor General.
How legislation is made
A bill is introduced by the Government or by at least fifteen deputies, passes the Majlis, and goes to the Guardian Council, which has ten days, extendable, to find it consistent with Islam and the Constitution. If the Council objects, the bill returns for amendment; persistent disagreement goes to the Expediency Discernment Council, whose decision is final. Only then does the President sign and publish.
Enforcement institutions
- Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA)
- National police under the Interior Ministry but commanded through the Supreme Leader.
- Prosecutor General and provincial prosecutors
- Direct investigation and charge; the Tehran prosecutor has wide practical reach.
- State Inspectorate Organisation
- Inspects administrative bodies for legality and reports to the judiciary.
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
- Has its own intelligence organisation with investigative functions in security cases.
- Deeds and Properties Registration Organisation
- Land and document registration; notarial offices operate under it.
Government bodies and regulators
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