Council of Experts (Iran)
Description
The Council of Experts, also known as the Assembly of Experts, is an elected body in the Islamic Republic of Iran primarily tasked with advising the Chief Legal Scholar (faqih), drafting the nation’s constitution, and selecting and overseeing the Supreme Leader’s successor. Dominated by clerics, this council plays a crucial role in ensuring the maintenance and continuity of Iran’s theocratic governance.
Etymology
- Council: Derived from Latin concilium, meaning a coming together or assembly.
- Experts: Comes from Latin expertus, past participle of experiri, meaning “to try” or “to experience.”
- Arabic: مجلس الخبراء (Majlis al-Khubarā’)
- Turkish: Uzmanlar Konseyi (translate)
Historical Context
The Council was originally elected to advise the Revolutionary Council—which dissolved in 1980—and the Chief Legal Scholar at the dawn of the Islamic Republic of Iran. One of its pivotal achievements was the drafting and ratification of the Iranian Constitution in 1979, which established robust clerical oversight in the management and governance of the country. In 1983, the Council was made permanent, tasked specifically with selecting Ayatollah Khomeini’s successor and ensuring the smooth transfer of power within the Islamic leadership.
Duties and Functions
- Advising the Faqih: One of the primary roles is to counsel the Supreme Leader on various religious, political, and social issues.
- Constitution Drafting: The body played a major role in the creation and ratification of Iran’s current constitution in 1979.
- Succession of Leadership: The Council ensures the orderly transfer of power by selecting the Supreme Leader when the position becomes vacant.
Books for Further Studies
- The Constitution of Iran: Politics and the State in the Islamic Republic by Asghar Schirazi
- The Turban for the Crown: The Islamic Revolution in Iran by Said Amir Arjomand
- Guardians of the Revolution: Iran and the World in the Age of the Ayatollahs by Ray Takeyh
- Iran: A Modern History by Abbas Amanat
Takeaways and Conclusion
The Council of Experts is a key institution within the Islamic Republic of Iran’s political structure, rooted deeply in clerical authority. It holds significant influence over governance through its advisory role, constitutional contributions, and critical function in maintaining the legitimacy and stability of theocratic leadership.
Conclusion
Understanding the Council of Experts provides insight into the governance dynamics and theocratic control mechanisms in post-revolutionary Iran. This institution exemplifies the intertwining of religion with state affairs, embedding clerical influence into all aspects of political decision-making in Iran.
References
Here is a list of references for further readings and in-depth exploration.
- Schirazi, Asghar. The Constitution of Iran: Politics and the State in the Islamic Republic.
- Arjomand, Said Amir. The Turban for the Crown: The Islamic Revolution in Iran.
- Takeyh, Ray. Guardians of the Revolution: Iran and the World in the Age of the Ayatollahs.
- Amanat, Abbas. Iran: A Modern History.
