AP Comparative Government - Iran

2.2: Comparing Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems

PARLIAMENTARY (U.K.) fusion of powers, executive born from legislature, executive branch is populated by members of legislative, parliamentary sovereignty PRESIDENTIAL (IRAN & U.S.) separation of powers, executive and legislative branch are independent, direct election of president, checks and balances SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL (RUSSIA & CHINA) dual-executive (both a prime minister and a president), president chosen by popular vote (who then chooses/appoints the prime minister), Prime Minister is the head of the parliament

2.1: Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM form of government where party with greatest representation in parliament (legislature) forms government; leader of leading party becomes Prime Minister or chancellor and, with a cabinet, forms the executive branch PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM executive branch (comprised of the president) is separate from the legislature; the 3 branches have different roles and are all independent of each other; commonly, since the branches are independent, there is some form of checks and balances to keep one branch becoming too powerful SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM form of government where there is both a popularly elected president, a prime minister, and a cabinet accountable to the parliament; idea of "dual-executive" is present, where president and prime minister are complementary of each other; role and size of each differ from country to country HOW IT APPLIES TO IRAN Iran (though difficult to classify) would be classified as a presidential republic because President Hassan Rouhani and the rest of the executive branch is separate from the Majles (the legislative branch) and the power of each branch is limited since each branch "checks" the other branch's power

2.7: Independent Legislatures

Powers include: -Enacts or changes laws (need Guardian Council approval) -Interprets legislation (need to avoid contradicting the judicial authorities) -Appoints half of the members of the Guardian Council -Investigates the cabinet members and public complaints about the other two branches -Removes cabinet ministers (not president) -Approves the budget, treaties, loans, and cabinet appointments -In comparison to the presidency, the Guardian Council, or the Faqih's office, the legislation doesn't have much power -"rubber stamping"

5.3: Challenges from Globalization

President Rouhani fears "permanent conflict with Iran", petrodollar: U.S. dependent industry (currency for trading oil is the dollar... note U.S. economic sanction and trade with China), two-sided internal approach to economics, western elites v. traditional clergies

4.1: Electoral System and Rules

RULES FOR VOTERS: -cannot have been a part of the Shah's government -must be over 18 years old (2007: was 15 years old)... you are automatically registered and voter ID is required -must choose to vote in their district or their religious community -cannot vote in minority election and constituency election *important to remember: democratic elections aren't very relevant in Iran* MAJLES Structuring -207 constituencies (voting districts) with 5 of those districts being reserved for religious minorities -0 of the electoral districts have multiple seats in the Majles -rest of the voting districts have 1 seat Rules for Candidates -citizen of Iran -in good keeping with Iran's "Twelver" sect of Shia Islam -between the age of 30 and 75 -a college education -must get approval from the Guardian Council (only 40% of the candidates get approved) Election Rules -election occurs every 4 years -first past the post (except for the multi-member districts) -once all candidates have been approved by the Guardian Council, they have 1 week to campaign -plurality system: must get at least 25% of the vote and, if 25% isn't gained, there's a runoff election with the top 2 candidates PRESIDENT Rules for Candidates -must be part of the political religious establishment -VERY selective (out 1600 potential candidates, 4 were chosen to campaign and run on the ballot) Election Rules -elections occur every 4 years -Guardian Council vets every presidential campaign applicant (campaign begins after vetting and lasts just over 1 month) -all eligible candidates run in the election: majority system with a runoff if no candidates earns more than 50%; if none win an absolute majority in the 1st round, then the 2 most popular candidates have a runoff election that takes place on the following Friday ASSEMBLY OF RELIGIOUS EXPERTS -candidates must be a Shiite theologian (they're, by definition, part of the religious establishment) -get vetted by Guardian Council (only 20% are approved) -the number of experts varies (no specific answer found) -elections occur every 8 years POLITICAL PARTIES -political parties (as we know them in the West) don't exist in Iran because they pop up with the purpose of electing a given candidate (after the election, these parties disappear... THOUGH THEY DO REAPPEAR) -why political parties don't develop deeper roots: democracy doesn't really matter in Iran (legislature and president play 2nd fiddle to the theocracy) and theocracy influences party politics in an authoritarian way -theocracy's influence on politics: every political party must believe in velayat-e-faqih, reformist parties get harassed by the state (Mehdi Karroubi), "we're watching you" mentality, parties get outlawed all the time

4.4: Role of Political Party Systems

-According to article 26 of the Constitution and under the general framework of "Freedom of Association" the constitution states that the formation of parties is permitted (as long as they don't go against Islam) -Under the Parties Law in September of 1981, parties must get a permit from the interior ministry to operate legally, so the state can deny their legitimacy as a party •As previously mentioned, the role of most "political parties" in Iran are to get a certain person elected for a position, and usually cease to exist long after that (-Islamic Iran Participation Front for Khatami, banned in 2010) •In theory, political parties should be able to thrive, but the role of political party systems has largely failed in Iran •Political party's failures in Iran have been attributed to a pessimistic view of political parties by Iranians who feel they are better off independent, the lack of a grassroots support for partisan politics, and the pace at which they are created but also disappear, differing from other countries we have studied with Dem vs Repub in the U.S, Labor and conservative in the U.K

4.5: Impact of Social Movements and Interest Groups

-Bonyads are charitable trusts in Iran that dominate Iran's non-petroleum economy. Controls an estimated 20% of Iran's GDP. Considered controversial because they are exempt from taxes and government control -Bazaaris are like private enterprises in Russia and China, but want the least government involvement. -Largest social movements in Iran are Khomeini's Revolutionary Movement, the Nahzat or Freedom Movement of Iran, the Second of Khordad which refers not only to 18 groups and political parties of the reforms front, but to anyone who was a supporter of the reform programs of Khatami, and the Green Movement -Freedom Movement of Iran and Hong Kong's movements are both aimed towards expanding democracy -Iranian Environmental Movement -Iranian Women's Rights Movement, comparable to women's movement that happened in Britain. -The Iranian Green Movement arose after the 2009 Iranian presidential election, In which protesters demanded the removal of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

2.4: Executive Term Limits

-Faqih: none (lifetime position... unless removed) -president: two 4-year terms (unless dismissed)

2.5: Removal of Executives

-Faqih: the Assembly of Religious Experts who chooses the Faqih can also remove him with a majority vote (this is hard to do because the Faqih's legitimacy comes from Muhammad, not the people) -President: CONSTITUTIONALLY cannot be removed (though complaints can be filed against him or any other government by/to the Majles), but the Faqih has the power to dismiss him

2.3: Executive System

-Presidential System presented in Constitution (in reality the Koran is the true source of authority) -President**: head of government, democratically elected by citizens (but Guardian Council can remove potential candidates from election), requirements: must be Shiite and hold Islamic principles, appoints officials (Council of Ministers, vice president, and such officials i.e. governors, mayors, and ambassadors), defines local government budget (must be approved by Majles aka the legislative body), implements laws (introduced by Majles and can also be blocked by the Guardian Council), and signs treaties **The second highest state official after the Faqih** -Faqih: head of state, appointed by the Assembly of Religious Experts, highest ranked state official, holds more power than any other person in Iran (interprets Koran (Islamic law and the main source of authority), can dismiss the president, has the power to declare war (leads/controls the military), nominates half of the Guardian Council, leads the Expediency Council, and appoints and removes judges

1.4: Democratization

1979: creation of the Constitution, Khomeini started consolidating power as the first Faqih, Khamenei election led to political issues, 1997: Mohammad Khatami eases political restrictions, 2000: Expediency Council ban investigation agencies, 2004: bar reformist candidates, contradicts the idea of linear democratization (theoretically should've become much more democratic with/after the revolution and establishment of the constitution, but it just keeps getting worse)

2.8: Judicial Systems

3 layers: -velayat-e-faqih ("jurist guardianship"): Fawih and Guardian Council have final say regarding interpretation of law -Sharia ("Islamic law"): community, superiority, and divinity -Qanan (the temporary laws for the Constitution of 1979): statues made by Majles, Qanun made by the people's elected representative Court system: -Chief Justice: must have advanced understanding of Sharia (so basically a cleric), appointed by Faqih for 5-year term, manages judiciary as well as the appointments & removals of judges -Supreme Court: highest court, high ranking cleric with understanding of Sharia -Special Clerical Court -Court of Administrative Justice -Court and Revolutionary Courts

1.3: Democracy v. Authoritarianism

Has a constitution (has a built-in idiosyncratic inconsistency: the people have freedom of speech and press... so long as everything you do follows the Karan, which has many limits on the people) and elected officials (main power is in the hands of theocrats, particularly the faqih), nationally elected legislature, rule of law (in the constitution... but NOT REALLY), democracy is difficult to measure (few metrics rate Iran highly, many sources rank Iran as highly authoritarian/dictatorial)

5.1: Impact of Global Economic and Technological Forces

Inflation due to: U.S. decertification of 2017 nuclear deal and U.S. economic sanctions in 2019, greater government spending on research and development, Iran's influence in oil trade has had a global footprint (nuclear deal announced with a 2% decrease and the pre-European sanction of 2006 provided 40%), 2.7 to 1.7 million barrel exports, looks to a future with further technological advances (research to innovation production), not a leader in the global innovation index

4.6: Pluralist and Corporatist Interests

Iran is highly corporatist, the church is high involved with the government, groups can only form if they are allowed by the state, bonyads: initially meant to help families of the revolution who were in poverty, but they're now just making money and helping the government

1.2: Defining Political Organizations

Iran is the only political theocracy in the world, go under the system of veleyat-e-faqih (started by Khomeini), unitary system, mixed system (but not between parliamentary and presidential), basis of government: Islam (Shi'ism), nation: has a Persian culture that has been starting to change and is very nationally proud of being Iranian

2.6: Legislative Systems

Iran's legislature is called the Majles, which was created by the 1906 constitution... -the Majles is unicameral (though the Assembly of Religious Experts has been acting as an 86-man "upper house") -the Majles is made up of 290 members who are elected by the people (in some parts, elections take place through single-member districts) -there are very limited seats available for women and religious minorities including Christians, Zoroastrians, and others (the only excluded religious minority is Sunni) -80% of the seats are for reformers in a coalition called the Khordad Front

3.1: Civil Society

Iranian civil society has evolved over time (strong under Khatami yet oppressed under Ahmadinejad); currently, Iranian civil society is currently corporatist; many Islamic charities under the pillar of Islam (bonyads), but they venture into other businesses; a multitude of anomic protests throughout Iran (Iranian green movement: protests over possible election fraud for the reelection of Ahmadinejad (2009-2010), current protest over increase in oil prices have led to protests and riots)

1.9: Sustaining Legitimacy

charismatic leadership of supreme leaders like the Ayatollah, theocracy relies on divine revelations/laws for legitimacy (Fatwas), holding the mighty Koran as a source of power is a strong legitimizing factor, arresting dissidents, "you can't follow some parts of the Constitution and throw the rest in a bin" - Mousavi, loss of confidence in elections after 2009 and the Green Movement, loss of popularity in Ayatollah, projecting image of economic success

5.7: Impact of Industrialization and Economic Development

conservative v. reformist: conservatives - regime principles, sharia law, not fans of western influence, fear modernization will disrupt society, politics and economy v. reformist - not worried about western influence, open to involvement with the west, somewhat believe in the separation of religion and state; statists v. free marketers: statists - government control of economy (redistributing land and wealth, eliminating unemployment, financing social welfare programs, and placing price ceilings on consumer goods)... similar system to that of communism v. free marketers - remove price controls, lower business taxes, encourage private enterprise, and balance the budget (think the U.S., but in a theocratic/democratic state); economic disputes are often the result of factional disagreements (gridlock); 1970s: Iran was an industrializing country and its economy was integrated into the world's economy; oil creates a divide (elites v. traditional sector); the price of oil has been unstable, which also causes issues; 2010: subsidies are dropped to reduce waste and encourage conservation (financial burden to citizens); 2015: GDP fell, currency rates went down, and unemployment increases

3.6: Forces that Impact Political Participation

economy: oil prices, sanctions, exports; religion (influences thoughts on politics more than actual participation); western influence (mostly United States influence, for example: Trump pulling out of the nuclear deal); legitimacy of the republic of Iran

5.9: Impact of Natural Resources

extraction and exportation of petroleum is most important and lucrative: National Iranian Oil Company, National Iranian Gas Company, National Iranian Petrochemical Company, National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company; main refining facility at Abadan was destroyed in war with Iraq: since been rebuilt as well as many other sites, aircraft and heating fuel; power with resources; resource curse: rent-seeking, oil revenue inequality with oil booms (market controlled and manipulated with policies); rentier state with a single state-owned resource: domestic and export, don't have to tax citizens too much, responsibility and relative deprivation; slow growing economy

5.5: International and Supranational Organizations

international organizations: organizations dedicated to cooperation between multiple states, in which they work to promote common goals; Iran is a member of multiple International Organizations (check PowerPoint for specific groups G12, G24, G77, International Monetary Fund [IMF], unofficial WTO member [due to relations with the U.S. and being unwilling to follow some of the WTO's policies], UNESCO); supranational organizations: organizations in which the authority trumps that of the member states - the will of the organization can be exerted over international boundaries (in Iran's case, OPEC)

3.8: Political and Social Cleavages

main social cleavage: hardliners vs moderates (disagreement with religious control of government); traditionalists vs. modernists; 90% Shiite and 10% Sunni; certain ethnic groups such as the Kurds and Azeris seek independence; Persian is the dominant ethnic group; rich vs. poor (gasoline price protests/Iran being a rentier state provokes this cleavage); authoritarians vs. democrats

3.9: Challenges from Political and Social Cleavages

makes it more difficult for Iran to unify its people under a single national identity (but still has strong Persian national identity); Iran attempts to restrict the expression of ethnic variations (i.e. languages); protests from ethnic groups such as the Azeris who want more autonomy and cultural freedom; terror attacks

UT 1

nothing here to study

UT 2

nothing here to study

UT 3

nothing here to study

UT 4

nothing here to study

UT 5

nothing here to study

3.7: Civil Rights and Liberties

onstitution of 1979 theoretically grants all Iranians civil rights and liberties (articles 19, 20, 22); Koran and Faqih have the ultimate power (Koran has supreme authority over everything, including the constitution; Faqih has the power to interpret the Koran [led to rule by law, taking too much of the civil liberties and civil rights away]); multiple protests, especially on educational campuses

3.2: Political Culture

over their history, Iranians have felt that their government is legitimate; however, that feeling has changed recently (evident through protests and feeling of oppression as well as agitation for increased gender equality); vast majority of Iranians are religious and believe in Shia Islam, but an increasing amount of Iranians believe the state should be separated from religion

1.5: Source of Power and Authority

power: Faqih has almost all of the power which is used to maintain power and stability of the state), the Faqih uses police, surveillance, military, and hired thugs to enforce power (recent event: Khamenei had the Iranian internet shut down to prevent protests against his power) the control of Iranian oil is used to pay for infrastructure and distribute amongst the people to eventually get that money back as paid loyalty and legitimacy; authority: religious authority helps maintain the state, the Constitution serves as a major source of authority

4.2: Objectives of Election Rules

primary concern is upholding theocracy -theocracy comes first -Guardian Council vets candidates -parties are banned and leaders are harassed -all MPs must be Shiite secondary concern is giving the people a voice -Majles has power, but laws can be blocked by Guardian Council -president is an elected position, but has significantly less power than the Faqih

2.9: Independent Judiciaries

similar to when a parent says you can go outside on your own and by yourself...but they watch what you do through the window -translation: you're allowed to do what you want, but you're always being watched and one mistake will get you in a lot of trouble with the government

3.4: Political Values and Beliefs

strong sense of Persian nationalism (Iranians are proud to be Iranian in that they have a strong and distinct culture upheld throughout society and in politics, efforts to eradicate [such as those by Khomeini] very unsuccessful); despite semi-authoritarian nature of regimes, Iranians place high emphasis on personal liberties and democracy (many relative liberal groups like the Iran Participation Front advocate for adherence to the 1979 constitution and increased democratic rights, various groups react to the effects of immense corruption and violation of liberties in their country, this often takes the form of infrapolitics because of oppression and adherence to tradition); strong cultural norms and traditions from religious influence everyday life and politics

1.8: Political Legitimacy

there are terrible elections for the Majiles and presidency as well as some local councils (where is my vote? Movement), the current regime has little legitimacy because their political system is a chaotic power struggle between a rotating cast of religious and "secular" institutional groups, the 1979 theocratic-democratic hybrid Constitution was crafted by religious experts instead of by an elected constitutional assembly and created an inherent institutional divide, Sharia law remains a loose ideology for the ruling religious class, Iran's population is very politically diverse (but minority or secular groups are not effectively represented in the government... religion is so strongly integrated into the Constitution that the involvement of it in the government is not the issue, but rather the consequences of it), many unelected positions hold great power in the government (example: the Faqih), widespread corruption

3.3: Political Ideologies

unique in one major way: religion (the state under veleyat-e-faqih is directly influenced by religion, the revolutions were also fueled but religiosity; culture of Shiism dominates Iran's affairs); veleyat-e-faqih: the guardianship of the jurist (relatively modern ideology developed as a result of the 1979 revolution led by Khomeini, united the Church and State, Islamic jurists have right to determine the course of action with all others being subordinate, established "constitutional" theocracy)

3.5: Nature and Role of Political Participation

voting with somewhat competitive elections; can run for elected office, create interest groups, and join political parties... with government approval

4.3: Political Party Systems

•Constitution allows for multiple parties, yet not allowed until 1997 - election of Mohammad Khatami, but some, like the Tudeh (communist) Party, existed during the Pahlavis •Parties generally reflect personalities/specific people, not issues or ideologies, Unlike the UK, where political parties represent ideologies and views •Change very often, highly unstable - fluid and weak, creation of a party must be approved by the Interior Minister, high standards to be approved (Katzman, AR 40) - Similar to China, parties are weak and fluid •Some parties of dissidents are in exile but are still active •Factionalism - factions form in order to get certain candidates elected, a faction will usually break up if their candidate is elected, stays together if said candidate is not •Little to no influence on shaping influence or policymaking (BTI Report, AR 2)

5.2: Political Responses to Global Market Forces

◦November 5, 2018 U.S. Re-imposed sanctions on Iran ◦Effecting energy (oil), banking and building ◦Trump called this a "Maximum Pressure Campaign" against Iran (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/iran/2019-11-05/iran-doing-just-fine) ◦Oil is traded in dollars ◦Adds pressure because the U.S. can freeze Iranian oil accounts ◦Forces iran to use middlemen in times of sanctions ◦ ◦ In response to U.S. sanctions: ◦raising oil prices In efforts to redistribute wealth to the needy ◦Raising food prices ◦Lower income inequality