REGION E – THE MIDDLE EAST

NEW WORLD ORDER

(Iran)

Islamic Consultative
Assembly

(Tehran)

The Official Story

ISLAMIC CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY

The Islamic Consultative Assembly, also called the Iranian Parliament, the Iranian Majles (Arabicised spelling Majlis), is the national legislative body of Iran. The Parliament currently consists of 290 representatives, an increase from the previous 272 seats since the 18 February 2000 election. The most recent election took place on 21 February 2020 and the new parliament convened on 28 May 2020.

Functions

The Islamic Consultative Assembly can legislate laws on all issues within the limits of the Constitution. The Assembly cannot, for instance, enact laws contrary to the canons and principles of the official religion of the country (Islam) or to the Constitution.

Government bills are presented to the Islamic Consultative Assembly after receiving the approval of the Council of Ministers.

The Islamic Consultative Assembly has the right to investigate and examine all the affairs of the country.

International treaties, protocols, contracts, and agreements must be approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

Receiving and issuing national or international loans or grants by the government must be ratified by the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

The President must obtain, for the Council of Ministers, after being formed and before all other business, a vote of confidence from the Assembly.

Whenever at least one-fourth of the total members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly pose a question to the President, or any one member of the Assembly poses a question to a minister on a subject relating to their duties, the President or the minister is obliged to attend the Assembly and answer the question.

All legislation passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly must be sent to the Guardian Council. The Guardian Council must review it within a maximum of ten days from its receipt with a view to ensuring its compatibility with the criteria of Islam and the Constitution. If it finds the legislation incompatible, it will return it to the Assembly for review. Otherwise the legislation will be deemed enforceable.

Building

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

The old building is depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 100 rial banknote.

Source: Wikipedia