Islamic Consultative Assembly

National Consultative Assembly
31st Majles
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
Speaker	Ali Larijani, (C) since May 3, 2008
First Deputy Speaker	Mohammad-Reza Bahonar, (C) since May 26, 2011
Second Deputy Speaker	Sahahab od-Din Sadr, (C) since May 26, 2010
Leader of Minority	Mostafa Kavakebian, (R) since May 4, 2011
Structure
Members	290
Political groups	Conservatives (195)      Reformists (51)      Independents (39)      Religious minorities (5)
Elections
Last election	May 2, 2008
Meeting place
Islamic Consultative Assembly Baharestan Tehran Iran
Website
http://www.Majlis.ir http://parlemannews.ir/ http://www.icana.ir/

The National Consultative Assembly of Iran (Persian: Majlese Ŝourāye Melli, lit. Majles), also called The Iranian Parliament or People's House, is the national legislative body of Iran. The Parliament currently has 290 representatives, changed from the previous 270 seats since the 18 February 2000 election and will be changed to 310 representatives in 2012 election.

History

Imperial State of Iran- National Consultative Assembly

First Members of Parliament, 1906-1908

See also: Iranian Constitutional Revolution

Before the Islamic Revolution, Majlis was also the name of the lower house of the Iranian Legislature from 1906 to 1979, the upper house being the Senate.

It was created by the Iran Constitution of 1906 and first convened on 6 November 1906 (Iranian Calendar: 1285-Mehr-13,),^[1] soon gaining power under the rule of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Noteworthy bills passed by the Parliament under the Pahlavi Dynasty include the Oil Nationalization Bill (15 March 1951) and the Family Protection Law (1967), which gave women many basic rights such as custody of children in the case of divorce.

Women were not allowed to vote or be elected to the Parliament until 1963, as part of reforms under the Shah's "White Revolution". The reforms were regarded as dangerous, Westernizing trends by traditionalists, especially by the powerful Shia religious leaders, including Ayatollah Khomeini. The events led to a revolt on 5 June 1963 and the exile of Khomeini to Iraq. The twenty-first National Consultative Assembly, which included female representatives, opened on 6 October 1963.

The last session of the Pre-Revolution Parliament was held on 7 February 1979 (18 Bahman 1357 AP^[1]).

Islamic Republic of Iran- Islamic Consultative Assembly

After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the Senate was abolished and the Iranian legislature thus became unicameral. In the 1989 revision of the constitution, the National Consultative Assembly became the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

The Parliament of Iran has had six chairmen since the Iranian Revolution. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was the first chairman, from 1980 to 1989. Then came Mehdi Karroubi (1989–1992), Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri (1992–2000), Mehdi Karroubi (2000–2004), Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel (2004–2008) and Ali Larijani since 2008.

Over its history the Parliament is said to have evolved from being "a debating chamber for notables," to "a club for the shah's placemen" during the Pahlavi era, to a body dominated by members of "the propertied middle class" under the Islamic Republic.^[2][3]

2008 election

Iran

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Iran

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Main article: Iranian legislative election, 2008

The last elections of Parliament of Iran were held 14 March 2008.

Some 4,500 candidates nationwide were running for parliament's 290 seats vote, in which an estimated 44 million Iranians of over 18 years of age were eligible to vote.^[4]

With less than two-thirds of the 290 contests decided by March 15, conservatives had won 125 seats, reformers won 35 and independents won 10, according to news agency Fars.^[5] Another 39 winners were independents whose political leanings were not immediately known. Five other seats dedicated to Iran's Jewish, Zoroastrian and Christian minorities have been decided.^[6] Voter turnout in the first round is disputed. Government officials claim that as many as 65% of Iran's 49 million eligible voters took part, a solid turnout but not reaching the around 80% that flooded the polls in elections in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Some conservative circles insisted that it was 73% or higher, "showing" popular support for the regime.^[7] "Yet the Ministry of the Interior's own figures indicated a national turnout of 52%, and no more than 30% in Tehran", roughly equivalent to 2004 turnout.^[8]

From amongst the 49 million eligible voters above 18 years of age announced ‎by the Iran Statistics Center some 23 million Iranians, i.e. 47 percent, participated in the ‎parliamentary elections of March 2, 2008. This is the lowest level when compared with ‎the eight previous parliamentary elections. Of this amount, 30 percent of the voters came ‎from large cities and provincial capitals while in Tehran which is the political nerve ‎center of the country whose residents demonstrate the most political behavior, the ‎number stood at 27 percent. ^[9] According to the government's final figures, 650,000 citizens of Tehran have taken part in the second round of the elections for the Majlis (Iranian parliament), that is less than 8% of those eligible to vote. A few months before the election on December 14, 2007, twenty-one moderate and reformist parties formed a coalition centered around Mohammad Khatami to increase their chances in the election.^[10] However, around 1,700 candidates were barred from running by the Guardian Council vetting body, the Supervisory and Executive Election Boards,^[11] on the grounds that they were not sufficiently loyal to the Iranian revolution.^[12] These included 90% of "independent and reformist candidates,"^[13] 19 sitting MPs, and Ayatollah Khomeini's grandson, Ali Eshraghi. Consequently the election has been described as a "contest between conservatives who still support" president Ahmadinejad, and conservatives who don't,^[14] or "hard-liners generally in sync with Ahmadinejad and ... `pragmatic conservatives,` ... unsympathetic" to him.^[15]

Reformist leaders pushed for Iranians to vote in parliamentary elections, hoping to prevent a sweep by hard-liners allied with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.^[4] Allies of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seized the largest share of parliament seats, vote counting nearly completed everywhere in the country except for the capital, Tehran, on March 16, 2008. Conservative critics of Ahmadinejad won a substantial bloc in the legislature, highlighting the growing discontent with the president's fiery style and failure to repair the ailing economy of Iran. Reformists, who seek greater democracy in Iran and closer ties with the West, showed strength in some cities where the clerical leadership allowed them to compete. Reformist leaders said March 16, 2008 that at least 14 winning independents are pro-reform, bringing their bloc to 45 seats so far. If correct, that would be around the size of the reformist presence in the outgoing parliament. Iran's leaders on March 16, 2008 declared the country's parliament elections, which were carried by conservatives, a victory that showed Iranians' defiance of the West. The United States and Europe called the vote unfair after most reformists were barred from running.^[6] 82 seats in which no candidate gained more than 25% of the vote in the first round held another round of voting on 25 April 2008; 11 of those seats were in Tehran.^[16] Of the 164 candidates, 69 are considered to be Conservative, 41 Reformists and 54 as Independents.^[17] Turnout in the second round was only about 25%.^[18]

Following the election, the 8th parliament opened on May 27, 2008.^[19] Issues in the election have been described as "unemployment, inflation and fuel shortages" in a petroleum-exporting country, and increasing inequality.^[14] "The price of some basic foods has doubled within the past year and rents are soaring." Influential conservative clerics are also said to be irritated by president Ahmadinejad's "folksy and superstitious brand of ostentatious piety and his favouritism to men of military rather than clerical backgrounds."^[8]

Members

See also: List of Speakers of the Parliament of Iran

Currently, the Parliament's 290 members, five of whom represent non-Muslim religious minorities, are popularly elected for four-year terms. The Parliament can force the dismissal of cabinet ministers by no-confidence votes and can impeach the president for misconduct in office. Although the executive proposes most new laws, individual deputies of the Parliament also may introduce legislation. Deputies also may propose amendments to bills being debated. The Parliament also drafts legislation, ratifies international treaties, and approves the national budget.

All People's House of Iran candidates and all legislation from the assembly must be approved by the Guardian Council. Candidates must pledge in writing that they are committed, in theory and in practice, to the Iranian constitution.

e • d Summary of 14 March/25 April 2008 Parliament of Iran election results

Coalition	Seats (1st rd.)	Seats (2nd rd.)	Seats (Total)	%
Conservatives	143	52	195	67.2%
Reformists	31	20	51	17.9%
Independents	29	10	39	13.4%
Armenians recognized minority religion	2		2	0.6%
Assyrian and Chaldean (Catholic) recognized minority religion	1		1	0.3%
Jewish recognized minority religion	1		1	0.3%
Zoroastrian recognized minority religion	1		1	0.3%
Total (Turnout: 60%)	208	82	290	100%
Source: IPU

Leadership

Main article: List of Speakers of the Parliament of Iran

Members of Parliament elects it's speaker and deputy speakers in the first meeting of the parliament for one year. Every years, almost in May, election for a new leaders is to be held that incumbents can be re-elect.

The current Speaker of Parliament is Ali Larijani, with First Deputy Speaker Mohammad-Reza Bahonar and Second Deputy Speaker Sahahab od-Din Sadr.

Building

From 1979, the Parliament had convened at the building that used to house the Senate of Iran. A new building was built for the Assembly at Baharestan Square in central Tehran, near the old Iranian Parliament's building that was used from 1906 to 1979. After several debates, the move was finally approved in 2004. The first session of the Parliament was held on 16 November 2004 in the new building.

The old building is depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 100 rials banknote.^[20]

• 

  The first building
  (used: 1906-1979)
  

• 

  The second building
  (used: 1980-2004)
  

See also

• Elections in Iran
• Iranian legislative election, 1996
• Iranian legislative election, 2000
• Iranian legislative election, 2004
• Majlis Research Center
• Supreme Audit Court of Iran

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b} Mohammad Modarresi (2005). "An Introduction to the history of the Legislative Assembly In Iran: The First Parliament of the National Consultative Assembly (آشنایی با تاریخ مجالس قانونگذاری در ایران: دوره اول مجلس شورای ملی)" (in Persian) (PDF). The Research Center of Islamic Consultative Assembly (مرکز پژوهش‌های مجلس شورای اسلامی). http://www.majlis.ir/pdf/final1.pdf. 
2. ^ Abrahamian, History of Modern Iran, (2008), p.179
3. ^ Islamic Majles, Ashnai-ye Ba Majles-e Showra-ye Islami, Vol.ii (Guide to the Islamic Majles, Tehran, 1992, p.205
4. ^ ^{a b} Reformers question point of voting in Iran CNN, 14 March 2008
5. ^ Fathi, Nazila (March 15, 2008). "Reformers Gain in Iran Vote Despite Being Barred". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/world/middleeast/16iran.html. Retrieved 2008-03-15. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Iran: Vote is victory against West CNN, 16 March 2008
7. ^ Fars (Iran), March 15, 2008. Kayhan (Iran), March 16, 2008; Rooz (Iran), March 17, 2008.
8. ^ ^{a b} "International: Back to first principles; Iran's election." The Economist. London: Mar 22, 2008. Vol. 386, Iss. 8572; pg. 70
9. ^ "خانه". roozonline.com. http://www.roozonline.com/english/archives/2008/04/iran_46_tehran_27.html. Retrieved 2011-06-18. 
10. ^ AFP: Iran reformists form coalition to end 'crisis' AFP, 14 December 2007
11. ^ Election fever in Iran ISN Security Watch, 14 February 2008
12. ^ Agence France-Presse (March 14, 2008). "Reformists sidelined as Iran elects parliament". AFP via Google. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h8hf-aRY4lmRFaK9laq1D2H80Gtw. Retrieved 2008-03-14. 
13. ^ Iranians vote in general election BBC News, 14 March 2008
14. ^ ^{a b} Fathi, Nazila (2008-03-15). "Turnout Uneven in Iran Elections". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/world/middleeast/15iran.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 
15. ^ "The Persian Pragmatists , March 21, 2008 , The New Republic". http://www.iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2008&m=03&d=21&a=4. 
16. ^ "Iran awaits second poll results". BBC News. 2008-04-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7366285.stm. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 
17. ^ "Zweite Runde der Parlamentswahl im Iran (International, NZZ Online)". Nzz.ch. http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/international/zweite_runde_der_parlamentswahl_im_iran__1.719151.html. Retrieved 2011-06-18. 
18. ^ "Konservative gehen gestärkt aus Stichwahl in Iran hervor (International, NZZ Online)". Nzz.ch. http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/international/konservative_gehen_gestaerkt_aus_stichwahl_in_iran_hervor_1.720009.html. Retrieved 2011-06-18. 
19. ^ "Iran's new parliament opens", Xinhua, May 27, 2008.
20. ^ Central Bank of Iran. Banknotes & Coins: 100 Rials. – Retrieved on 24 March 2009.

External links

• The official website of the Majlis of Iran
• History of Iran: Constitutional Revolution, a history of Majlis from 1906 to 1953
• Iranian Ministry of Interior on the history of elections in Iran
• A report on moving the Majles to Baharestan
• The Council of Guardians, Official website.
• The Majles, Iran's parliament news service.
• Video Archive of Iran's Parliament
• Kourosh Esmāili, People & Power: The Iranian Campaign, Aljazeera, YouTube, April 2008: Part 1 (11 min 25 sec), Part 2 (11 min 54 sec).
• Interparliamentary Union (IPU) summary of Majlis of Iran election preparations and/or outcomes (translated into English)
• Iran Electoral Archive - Iranian Parliament

Coordinates: 35°41′30.28″N 51°26′04″E / 35.6917444°N 51.43444°E / 35.6917444; 51.43444