Iran's Political System Explained

BBC News ^ | 1-13-04

[nuconvert]

Iran's Political System Explained

Iran's complex and unusual political system combines elements of a modern Islamic theocracy with democracy. The whole system operates under a Supreme Leader who, although appointed by an elected body, is in effect answerable to no-one. The constitution, however, also recognises the popular will, creating a system where the elected president and parliament struggle against the more powerful, but unelected, Supreme Leader and the institutions he influences. Consequently, although reformists dominate the parliament, the political system has seen little change.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/iran_power/html/default.stm

[nuconvert]

Good explanation of who's who, what's what in Iran's Government

[nuconvert]

click below if you don't want to copy/paste : )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/iran_power/html/default.stm

[Pan_Yans Wife]

The constitution, however, also recognises the popular will, creating a system where the elected president and parliament struggle against the more powerful, but unelected, Supreme Leader and the institutions he influences.

This doesn't make sense. The elected president and parliament are not struggling against the Supreme Leader. They are all in cahoots together.

[The Great RJ]

The democracy part seems to have been lost. It would appear the Supreme Leader and an army of theocrats run the country and the people are left out of the process--note the recent parlimentary elections where reform minded members are being excluded from candidacy.

[nuconvert]

It's BBC

[nuconvert]

Yep. The democracy part doesn't exist.
The people do get a paper ballot to write on, but they have to choose from a list of candidates chosen by the Guardian Council.
Please don't be confused by the media into thinking that the "reformists" or "moderates" are people the Iranians would vote for. They've already had enough of them. They want a whole new government.