Guardian Council, Constitutional watchdog in Tehran, Iran
The Guardian Council is an overseeing body in Tehran, Iran, composed of twelve members who examine legislation for compliance with Islamic law and the Iranian Constitution. The sessions take place in the capital, where members gather regularly to evaluate parliamentary decisions.
After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the council emerged to provide religious oversight over the new Islamic Republic. Its role solidified in the following years as part of constitutional control over legislation and elections.
Six Islamic law experts and six jurists form the council, with the Supreme Leader appointing the religious members and Parliament selecting the legal ones. This structure mirrors the dual system of Iranian governance, where religious and civil legal orders connect with each other.
The body meets in Tehran and reviews candidates for presidential and parliamentary elections as well as laws for constitutional compliance. Its decisions directly influence the political landscape and the composition of elected institutions in Iran.
Since its founding, the body has disqualified thousands of election candidates and rejected numerous parliamentary laws. This power to interpret the constitution makes it one of the most influential organs in the Iranian political system.
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