Lesson 2:
Vocabulary and Phrases
The Iranian Government
Iran has had an Islamic theocratic government since the country's 1979 revolution. The head of the state is وَلیّ فـَقیه(/valiyy-e fæqih/, Supreme Leader), who is appointed by مـَجلِس ِ خـِبرگان (/majles-e xebre-gan/, Assembly of Experts). The members of مجلس خبرگان are elected through public ballot. The job of ولیّ فقیه is to coordinate the three main branches of the state, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president, رَئیس جـُمهور (/ræ'is-e jomhur/) is the head of the executive branch of the government, and is also elected by public vote. The legislative branch consists of the parliament (مـَجلِس /mæjles/) whose members are elected by public vote. The head of the judiciary, however, is appointed by the Supreme Leader, who also appoints 6 members of another assembly called شورای نِگـَهبان (/šura-ye negæh-ban/, the Guardian Council). The job of the Guardian Council is to approve all the bills passed by the parliament as well as all the candidates for public elections.
