Guardian Council
Guardian Council شورای نگهبان Shourā-ye Negahbān | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
De facto leader | |
Secretary | Ahmad Jannati since 17 July 1992 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 12 |
Political groups | By faction
|
| Meeting place | |
| Tehran, Iran | |
| Website | |
| www | |
| Government of Iran • Constitution of Iran |
|---|
The Guardian Council (also called Council of Guardians or Constitutional Council, Persian: شورای نگهبان, romanized: Shourā-ye Negahbān) is a 12-member council that wields considerable power and influence in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Constitution of Iran mandates the Council to:
- Veto unconstitutional legislation passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly;
- Supervise elections;
- Approve or disqualify candidates seeking to run in local, parliamentary, presidential, or Assembly of Experts elections.
The Council is composed of Islamic clerics and lawyers. Membership is for phased six-year terms: half the membership changes every three years. The supreme leader of Iran directly appoints the six clerics, and may dismiss them at will. The Chief Justice of Iran nominates six lawyers for confirmation by the Islamic Consultative Assembly.