Iran

Justin Thompson, Adam Neulist, Kevin Gibson, and Ty Schuster

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power

• The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran was adopted by vote of the general public in 1979– articles One and Two

vest sovereignty in God– article six "mandates

popular elections for the presidency and the Majlis, or parliament”

– all democratic procedures and rights are under the authority of the Guardian Council and the Supreme Leader

Coat of arms of Iran. "Allah" in artistically stylized Arabic letters. The emblem is also an overlaid rendering of La Ilaha Illa Allah (There is only one God and that is God).

Political Institutions• Iran’s constitution is based on Islamic Democracy

– an Islamic and democratic political structure, which combines aspects of Theocracy and Democracy

• Only Islamist parties can operate inside the Islamic regime

Political Institutions Continued

• Iran is separated between two factions: the Conservatives and the Reformists

• Islamic Society of Engineers– main Conservative party

• Islamic Iran Participation Front– main Reformist party

Citizens, Society, and the State

• Ethnically diverse with a 51% Persian population

• Official state religion is Shi’a Islam– Wants complete

Islamic nation– Baha’I Faith has no

legal rights as individuals or as a community

8%51%

24%

7%

3%

2%2%2%

1%

Persian AzeriGilaki, Mazandarani KurdishArab LuriBaloch TurkomenOther

Citizens, Society, and the State Continued

• Media under complete state control

• Social status is determined on political connections, money, and knowledge

• Population of 74 million

Political and Economic Change

• July 2009 presidential election– Ahmadinejad won– Mousavi promised economic growth

• Economy seized to grow– Oil prices was one main reason

• Protests were held for Mousavi– Said millions of votes unaccounted for– Protestors were arrested and some were killed

Public Policy

• A network of unelected institutions controlled by the highly powerful conservative Supreme Leader is countered by a president and parliament elected by the people

• Member of UN but does not actively participate

• Iran says they do not pursuit nuclear or chemical weapons, but it is believed they have the WMD potential

Questions

1) Name one reason why the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran gives sovereignty, authority, and power to Iran.

2) What are the two Iranian political factions and their main parties?

3) What was held in 2009 that brought about political and economic change?

4) How is social status determined in Iran?5) How is public policy developed in Iran?