Iran · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Iran, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- The Constitution
- Article 4 requires all laws to be based on Islamic criteria; the Guardian Council judges compliance.
- Sharia (Twelver Shia fiqh)
- The substantive foundation; Article 167 directs judges to authoritative sources where statute is silent.
- Statutes of the Islamic Consultative Assembly
- Effective only after Guardian Council approval.
- The Civil Code and Islamic Penal Code
- French-form codification restating Shia substantive rules.
- Supreme Court unification rulings
- Resolve conflicting interpretations and bind lower courts.
The legislative process
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.
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