Wiley Davis

AP Comparative Government

COUNTRY FACT SHEET: _________Iran_____________________

FEDERAL/UNITARY 30 Centralized
Administration. The
Interior Minister appoints
the provincial governor-
generals
PRESIDENTIAL; Supreme Leader President Mahmud
PARLIMAMENTARY, OR MIXED Ali Hoseini-Khamenei Ahmadinejad

HEAD OF STATE/ The assembly of experts The president of Iran is

HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
appoints the Head of State directly elected for a four-
for life. As the leader of a year term and is limited to
theocratic republic based two terms. While they say
on Islam the Supreme that the elections are
Leader is a member of the democratic, the supreme
Islamic Clergy. The leader can disqualify
supreme leader is the single candidates and must
most powerful man in Iran. approve who runs and may
His powers include throw out any candidates
• Elimination of that seem to hold beliefs
Presidential contradictory to the
Candidates message of the regime. The
• Dismissal of the constitution also mandates
President the President be a pious
• Command of the Shiite who upholds Islamic
Armed Forces principles. Powers are:
• Declaration of war • Create Budget
and peace • Supervise Economics
• Appointment and • Propose legislation
removal of major • Executing policies
administrators and • Sign treaties, laws
judges and agreement
• Nomination of six • Chair National
members of the Security Council
Guardian Council • Select vice
• Appointment of presidents and
many non- cabinet ministers
governmental • Appoint provincial
directors such as the governors, town
national tv and radio mayors and
head. ambassador
Wiley Davis
AP Comparative Government

NAME OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH On other paper On other paper

(Identify both houses if applicable)

NAME OF JUDICIAL BRANCH On other paper On other paper

BUREAURACRACY/CABINET On other paper On other paper

POLITICAL RECRUITMENT Elites are recruited

through the clergy. To
really move up in
Iranian political system
you must be a good
Muslim
OTHER IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS: The Revolutionary The Revolutionary Guard is
Guard is an important separate from the Iranian
force in Iran. The Guard military.
owns the media and they
have a group of thugs
that runs around and
beats dissenters up. The
Guard is the group that
makes sure that Iranians
stay in line. If they do
not, they will disappear
for a long time
MEDIA The media is heavily
controlled and primarily
state run. Publication
against the government
is taboo and therefore
the government has a
monopoly on the
distribution of
information. Educated
Iranians often get news,
even news about Iran,
from foreign sources.
LEGITIMACY While there were Constitution
questions about the
results of the 2009 Supreme Leader
election most in Iran
consider the Islamic Sharia Law
government to be
legitimate and support City of Qom
the overall idea of
Wiley Davis
AP Comparative Government
FEATURES OF CONSTITUTION
COUNTRY FACT SHEET PAGE 2
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF Theory of rising expectations
POLITICAL TRADITIONS
Globalization
Authoritarian Rule
theocracy. However
many want to see
changes
1979 Creates an Islamic Republic
where Islam is the overriding
feature
Was endorsed by 99% of the
those that voted in the
referendum for its passage
Grants a great deal of power
to the clergy and the supreme
leader.
The revolution against the shah
occurred because a relative
improvement in the lives of
average Iranians was
experienced, however, with a
decline in oil prices there was an
economic setback. The people
were unwilling to deal with this
setback and revolted. There is
speculation that this could occur
again
Unlike countries such as Japan,
Iran is used to being a player in
the global community stemming
back from the days of the Qajars
and there various travels.
Therefore Iran’s transition into
globalization has been much
more natural
All phases of Iranian leadership
have been relatively
authoritarian going back to the
days of the Safavids
Wiley Davis
AP Comparative Government
KEY POLITICAL LEADERS Khomeini
AND THEIR POLICIES
Khatami
Ahmadinejad
ETHNIC CLEAVAGES The main cleavages are religion
Shiite v. All other religions
Social Class
Ethnicity
Reformers v. Conservatives
POLITICAL PARTIES Alliance of Builders of Islamic
Iran
Iranian Reform Movement
Islamic Republic
Economics is for donkeys (What
an idiot)
Cultural Revolution (Essentially
purged the country of opposition
and instituted things that favored
the new regime
Tehran Spring a brief
liberalization in which Iranian
were able to have more freedom
of speech. Also brought Iran
back onto global stage and tried
to make relations with the United
States amicable.
Wishes to purge the country of
reformist influence and
performed the White (Bloodless)
Coup. Also has angered foreign
countries and insisted on
continuing an Iran drive for
nuclear capabilities.
90% Shi’a , 10% Sunni, 1% all
others
Middle Class support the regime
however upper and middle
classes are highly secularized
Persians v. the World
People who want secularization
v. people who don’t
Endorsed Ahmadinejad and are
conservatives. Tend to back
more Islamic ruling and
reverting back to Islamic
fundamentalism.
Supported Mousavi, candidate in
the 2004 election was banned.
Secularism. More liberalization.
These are the people who took to
Wiley Davis
AP Comparative Government

the streets.
Etemad-e Melli Party
Pragmatic reformists described
by others as moderates with a
rural base of support.

ROLE OF POLITICAL ELITES Political elites are not as

CITIZENS
INTEREST GROUP SYSTEM
(pluralist or corporatist)
ECONOMIC SYSTEM:
Identify type: capitalist, socialist,
etc.: identify major economic
policies government has adopted
FIRST WORLD/THIRD WORLD
prominent in Iran as in some
other countries, however they
still do rule the county.
Rebellious, Contemptuous, or
Satisfied depending on who you
talk to.
Workers’ House a interest
group that is for factory workers
that operates with the help of
there newspaper.
The economic direction of Iran is
somewhat unclear
Developing
Some people protest the
government but really to no
avail.
Because Political Parties are ill
defined in Iran it is difficult to
discern parties and interest
groups.
There is a struggle between
statist and free marketers. Some
believe that Iran should
redistribute and own business.
Others want a free enterprise
system similar to that of the
United States, except under
Islamic law.
• Lack of Civil Society
• Rentier State
• No Economic
Diversification
• Fluctuation of oil prices
leads to catastrophe in
economy
• Legitimacy Questions
• Negative Global
Perception
• Very large poor
community

SUPRANATURAL OPEC, UN, Interpol, WHO, IMF Supranational organization have

ORGANIZATIONS brought bad Iranian actions into
the limelight. Because the
international organizations Iran
is a part of they have become
more involved in global affairs.
However the rest of the world,
because of Iran’s membership
has begun to scrutinize some of
Wiley Davis
AP Comparative Government
PUBLIC POLICY Waxing and Waning on the
strictness of Islamic Code ex.
Hijab, Rap, Westernization
Nuclear Policy
Crackdown on Protest
the seemingly questionable
actions of Iran
Legitimacy problems. Many of
the people of Iran are beginning
to tire with the strictness of
Islamic rule. The realitive wealth
that has been brought to the
middle class due to oil has
prompted them to want to
westernize and liberalize.