View source for Guardian Council

{{short description|Regulatory body in the Islamic Republic of Iran}}
{{hatnote|This article is about the Iranian deliberative body. For the former Greenlandic guardian councils, see [[parsissaet]].}}
{{Infobox legislature
 | background_color   = 
 | text_color         =
 | name               = Guardian Council
 | native_name        = {{No bold|{{Script/Nastaliq|شورای نگهبان}}}}
 | native_name_lang   = fa
 | transcription_name = {{No bold|Shourā-ye Negahbān}}
 | coa_pic            = Emblem of Guardian Council of IRI.png{{!}}class=skin-invert
 | session_room       = 
 | house_type         = {{plainlist|
*[[Election commission|Election supervision body]]
*[[Constitutional court]]
*[[Legislative council]] <small>(overseeing [[Islamic Consultative Assembly|parliament]])</small>
}}
 | leader1_type       = Secretary
 | leader1            = [[Ahmad Jannati]]
 | election1          = 17 July 1992
 | members            = 12
 | structure1 = {{Switcher|[[File:Guardian Council.svg|300px]]|By faction|[[File:Guardian council.svg|300px]]|By party}}
 | structure1_res = 
 | political_groups1  = 
{{Collapsible list
 | title =By faction
|{{Color box|#0077B6}} [[Iranian Principlists|Principlists]] (6)
|{{Color box|#CDCDCD}} [[Independent Politician|Independents]] (6)
}}
{{Collapsible list
 | title =By party
|{{Color box|#8D9075}} [[Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom|SST]] (6)
|{{Color box|#CDCDCD}} [[Independent Politician|IND]] (6)
}}
 | meeting_place      = [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
 | website            = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Politics of Iran}}
The '''Guardian Council''' (also called '''Council of Guardians''' or '''Constitutional Council''', {{langx|fa|شورای نگهبان|Shourā-ye Negahbān}})<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=2003 |title=GUARDIAN COUNCIL |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]] |publisher=Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation |location=New York, NY |url=https://brazil.certifiedfinanceexpert.com/guardianship-council-candidates/ |last1=Sandhu |first1=Deep |editor1-last=Sandhu |editor1-first=Deep |volume=XI |pages=379–382 |isbn=0933273711 |last2=Schirazi |first2=Asghar |editor1-link=Ehsan Yarshater}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Council of Guardians {{!}} Definition, Role, Selection, & History|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Council-of-Guardians|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> is an appointed and constitutionally mandated 12-member council that wields considerable power and influence in the [[Iran|Islamic Republic of Iran]].

The constitution of the Islamic Republic gives the council three mandates: 
:a) veto power over legislation passed by the [[Majlis of Iran|parliament (Majlis)]];<ref name="IDP"/><ref>Article 98 of the constitution</ref><ref>Articles 96 and 94 of the constitution.</ref> 
:b) supervision of elections;<ref name="Article 99 of the constitution">Article 99 of the constitution</ref><ref name="IDP"/> and 
:c) approving or disqualifying candidates seeking to run in local, parliamentary, presidential, or Assembly of Experts elections.<ref name="Article 99 of the constitution"/><ref name="IDP">{{cite web |title=THE GUARDIAN COUNCIL |url=https://irandataportal.syr.edu/the-guardian-council |website=Iran Data Portal. Political Institutions |access-date=7 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="arsehsevom.org">[https://www.arsehsevom.org/en/2020/02/the-guardian-council-consolidates-power-election-monitoring-boards/ The Guardian Council Expands Power: Election Monitoring Boards], Arseh Sevom, ''[[Arseh Sevom]]'', Feb 18, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.</ref>
The Iranian constitution calls for the council to be composed of six Islamic [[faqih]]s (experts in Islamic Law), "conscious of the present needs and the issues of the day" to be selected by the [[Supreme Leader of Iran]], and six jurists, "specializing in different areas of law, to be elected by the [[Majlis of Iran|Majlis]] (the Iranian Parliament) from among the Muslim jurists nominated by the  [[Chief Justice of Iran|Chief Justice]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-6-2.html |title=Iranian Government Constitution, English Text |publisher=Manou & Associates, Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617152445/http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/government/constitution-6-2.html |archive-date=2011-06-17}}</ref> (who, in turn, is also appointed by the Supreme Leader).<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |url=http://mellat.majlis.ir/constitution/english.htm |title=خانه ملت |website=mellat.majlis.ir |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705083907/http://mellat.majlis.ir/constitution/english.htm |archive-date=5 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Council has played a central role in controlling the interpretation of Islamic values in Iranian law in the following ways: 
*As part of its vetting of potential candidates to determine who can and cannot run for national office,<ref name="arsehsevom.org"/> it has disqualified reform-minded candidates—including the most well-known candidates—from running for office;<ref>[https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/factbox-irans-2020-parliamentary-elections/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/factbox-irans-2020-parliamentary-elections/], Arash Azizi, [[Atlantic Council]], February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.</ref>
*[[Veto]]es laws passed by the popularly elected Majlis.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazine/28iran.t.html?ei=5088&en=df35a74bde394fa1&ex=1327640400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print Whose Iran?], [[Laura Secor]], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 28, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2008.</ref><ref name=State>[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/31261.htm Iran: Voices Struggling To Be Heard], U.S. Department of State Fact Sheet, April 9, 2004. Retrieved September 22, 2008.</ref>
*Has increased the influence that the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] (an ideological fighting force separate from the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Army|Iranian army]]) has on the economic and cultural life of the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Revolutionary Guards' Role in Iranian Politics |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/irans-revolutionary-guards |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Council on Foreign Relations |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-06-04 |title=Iran Guards wield electoral power behind scenes |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-election-guards-idUSBRE9530V120130604 |access-date=2022-09-21}}</ref>

When the 2009 presidential election was announced, popular former president [[Mohammad Khatami]] would not discuss his plans to run against [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]], for the Council might have disqualified Khatami as it had other reformists' candidatures, on the grounds that they were not dedicated enough to Islamic values.<ref name=Khatami>[http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080921/FOREIGN/249991953/1011/ART Khatami reluctant to discuss candidacy] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427232631/http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080921/FOREIGN/249991953/1011/ART |date=2009-04-27}}, Maryam Sinaiee, ''[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]]'', September 21, 2008.</ref><ref name=USAToday>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-03-16-iran-parliament-elections_N.htm Split hard-liners hold Iran parliament], AP via ''[[USA Today]]'', March 16, 2008.</ref>

There have also been instances where the Constitutional Council reversed its ban on particular people after being ordered to do so by Khamenei.<ref name=guardian-24-5-2005>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/24/iran |title=Iran reverses ban on reformist candidates |last1=Staff |last2=agencies |date=24 May 2005 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

The lack of [[Transparency (behavior)|transparency]] in the rendering of decisions by the Guardian Council has eroded its [[Legitimacy (political)|legitimacy]] in the eyes of Iranians and the world.<ref>{{cite web | title=Iran: The long road to transparency | date=28 September 2017 | url=https://www.article19.org/resources/iran-the-long-road-to-transparency/ }}</ref>

==Legislative functions==
The Majlis has no legal status without the Constitutional Council.<ref name="Archived copy"/> Any bill passed by the [[Islamic Consultative Assembly|Majlis]] must be reviewed and approved by the Constitutional Council<ref name="Archived copy"/><ref>[http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/10/031006.asp IRANIAN LEGISLATURE APPROVES FUNDS FOR GASOLINE IMPORTS] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101092818/http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/10/031006.asp |date=2006-11-01}} provides an example the need for approval of the Guardian Council.</ref> to become law.

According to Article 96 of the constitution, the Constitutional Council holds absolute veto power over all legislation approved by the Majlis. It can nullify a law based on two accounts: being against Islamic laws,<ref>[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm Article 4] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209085520/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm |date=2006-12-09}}</ref> or being against the [[Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran|constitution]]. While all the members vote on the laws being compatible with the constitution, only the six clerics vote on them being compatible with Islam.

If any law is rejected, it will be passed back to the Majlis for correction. If the Majlis and the Council of Guardians cannot agree on a case, it is passed up to the [[Expediency Council]] for a decision.<ref>[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm Article 112] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209085520/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm |date=2006-12-09}}</ref>

The Constitutional Council is uniquely involved in the legislative process, with equal oversight with regards to economic law and social policy, including such controversial topics as [[Abortion in Iran|abortion]]. Chapter 6 of the Constitution explains its interworkings with the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Articles 91-97 all fall into the legislative Chapter 6.

==Judicial authority==
The Council of Guardians also functions similar to a [[constitutional court]]. The authority to interpret the constitution is vested in the Council.<ref>[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm Article 98] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209085520/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm |date=2006-12-09}}</ref> Interpretative decisions require a three-quarters majority. The Council does not conduct a court hearing where opposing sides are argued.

==Electoral authority==
Since 1991, all candidates of parliamentary or presidential<ref>[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm Article 110 Clause 9] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209085520/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm |date=2006-12-09}}</ref> elections, as well as candidates for the Assembly of Experts, have to be qualified by the Constitutional Council in order to run in the election.  For major elections, it typically disqualifies most candidates, as seen in the 2009 election, where out of the 476 men and women applied to the Constitutional Council to seek the presidency, only four were approved.<ref name=afp>{{cite news |first=Aresu |last=Eqbali |title=Iranian women need more rights: candidate's wife |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jDD9Q1xNs5VIqwgzYINkyU2y5Upg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525164945/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jDD9Q1xNs5VIqwgzYINkyU2y5Upg |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |work=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|date=29 May 2009 |access-date=25 June 2009}}</ref>

The Council is accorded "supervision of elections".<ref>[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm Article 99] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209085520/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm |date=2006-12-09}}</ref><ref>[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/1385/02/18/daytalk.htm خانه ملت<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20061011153322/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/1385/02/18/daytalk.htm |date=2006-10-11}}</ref> The Constitutional Council interprets the term ''supervision'' in Article 99 of the [[Constitution of Iran|Iranian Constitution]] as "approbation supervision" ({{langx|fa|نظارت استصوابی}}, ''nezārat-e estesvābī'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shora-gc.ir/Portal/Home/ShowPage.aspx?Object=News&ID=7ca3f12d-47c1-4ac5-a088-397771794abb&LayoutID=e3152b95-620e-4dfd-97f1-1fefd0f696b1&CategoryID=8fac823a-5745-41b6-a9e2-b879c74deb7b |title=سايت اطلاع رساني شوراي نگهبان/آشنايي با شوراي نگهبان |work=shora-gc.ir}}</ref> which implies the right to accept or reject the legality of elections and the competency of candidates. This interpretation is in contrast with the idea of "notification supervision" ({{langx|fa|نظارت استطلاعی}}, ''nezārat-e estetlā‘ī'') which does not imply the mentioned approval right.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://magiran.com/magtoc.asp?mgID=2982|title=magiran.com: نشريه حقوق اساسي، شماره 21|work=magiran.com}}</ref> The "evidentiary supervision" ({{langx|fa|نظارت استنادی}}, ''nezārat-e estenādī''), which requires evidences for acceptance or rejection of elections legality and candidates competency, is another interpretation of mentioned article.<ref>[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/1382/01/23/newsdiplomatic.htm Mellat Electronic Newspaper<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503035226/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/1382/01/23/newsdiplomatic.htm |date=May 3, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irannewspaper.ir/1382/820205/html/politic.htm#s210702 |title=Iran Newspaper |website=www.irannewspaper.ir |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516171359/http://www.irannewspaper.ir/1382/820205/html/politic.htm#s210702 |archive-date=16 May 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Role in the 2009 elections===
{{further|Iranian presidential election, 2009}}
On 29 June 2009, the Constitutional Council certified the results of the [[2009 Iranian presidential election|controversial election]] in which President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] was elected.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |title=Iran Council Certifies Disputed Election Results |author=Michael Slackman |date=June 29, 2009 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The Council had completed a recount of 10 per cent of the overall votes in order to appease the citizens of Iran.<ref name="WashTV">{{cite web |title=Lebanon's President congratulates Admadinejad on re-election |date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=June 30, 2009 |url=http://televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=en&t=2&id=11715 |publisher=Washington TV |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716203936/http://televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=en&t=2&id=11715 |url-status=dead }} {{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> As the "final authority on the election", the Council has declared the election closed.<ref name="EB">{{cite web |title=Iran Electoral Body: Won't Accept More Election Objections |date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=June 30, 2009 |url=https://www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite/marches/iran-electoral-body-won-t-accept-more-election-objections-693959 |publisher=EasyBourse}} {{dead link |date=March 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The certification of the results set off a wave of protests, disregarding the Iranian government's ban on street marches.<ref name="NYTimes"/>

== Criticism ==
=== Increases the role of the IRGC in everyday politics ===
The Council favors military candidates at the expense of reform candidates. This ensures that the ideological [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] (separate from the Iranian army) holds a [[Deep state|commanding influence over the political, economic, and cultural life of Iran]].<ref name="Alfoneh">[https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/irans-revolutionary-guards The Revolutionary Guards' Role in Iranian Politics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104075416/http://www.aei.org/article/28594/|date=2016-11-04}}, [[Ali Alfoneh]], ''[[Middle East Quarterly]]'', Fall 2008; accessed via AEI's website on September 22, 2008.</ref>

=== Arbitrary disqualifications of candidates from elections ===
[[Hadi Khamenei]], the brother of Supreme Leader [[Ali Khamenei]] and an adviser in the administration of reformist former President Mohammad Khatami, has said the Constitutional Council's vetting of candidates threatens Iranian democracy. He believes some reformist candidates are wrongly kept from running.<ref name=BBC20000112 >{{cite news |title=Khamenei's brother attacks reformist purge |work=[[BBC News]] |date=2000-01-12 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/600741.stm |access-date=2009-07-28}}</ref> In 1998, the Constitutional Council rejected his candidacy for a seat in the [[Assembly of Experts]] for "insufficient theological qualifications".<ref name=RFERL20000117 >{{cite web |author=A. William Samii |title=Candidates rejected and Guardians Criticized |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] Iran Report |date=2000-01-17 |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2000/3-170100.html |access-date=2009-07-28}}</ref><ref name=PBS1 >{{cite web |title=Iranian Elections, 1997-2001 |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tehran/inside/elections.html |access-date=2009-07-28}}</ref>

After conservative candidates fared poorly in the 2000 parliamentary elections, the Council disqualified more than 3,600 reformist and independent candidates for the 2004 elections.<ref name=HRW2004 >{{cite web |title=Overview of Human Rights Issues in Iran |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |date=2005-01-13 |url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/english/docs/2005/01/13/iran9803.htm3/iran9803_txt.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414230306/http://www.hrw.org/legacy/english/docs/2005/01/13/iran9803.htm3/iran9803_txt.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-14 |access-date=2009-07-28}}</ref>

In the run-up to the [[2006 Iranian Assembly of Experts election]], all female candidates were disqualified.<ref name=State2007>[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/83185.htm The Iranian Regime: Human Rights and Civil Liberties Under Siege], U.S. State Department Fact Sheet, April 18, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2008.</ref>

The Council disqualified many candidates in the 2008 parliamentary elections. One third of them were members of the outgoing parliament it had previously approved.<ref name=Alfoneh/> The Iranian Ministry of the Interior reasons for disqualification included narcotics addiction or involvement in drug-smuggling, connections to the Shah's pre-revolutionary government, lack of belief in or insufficient practice of Islam, being "against" the Islamic Republic, or having connections to foreign intelligence services.<ref name=Alfoneh/><ref name="EI">{{cite web |title=GUARDIAN COUNCIL |url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/guardian-council |website=Encyclopaedia Iramica |access-date=7 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="MEE-11-6-21">{{cite web |title=Iran elections: Everything you need to know about June presidential vote |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-president-elections-explained-guardian-council-candidates-islamic-republic |website=Middle East Eye |access-date=7 September 2022 |date=11 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Rule by unelected leaders ===
This unelected Council frequently vetoes bills passed by the popularly elected legislature.<ref name=State2007/> It repeatedly vetoes bills that are in favour of women’s rights, electoral reform, the prohibition of torture and ratification of international human rights treaties.<ref name=HRW2004/>

=== Rigging results after elections in favor of conservatives ===
The Guardian Council has been criticized for ousting [[Iranian Reformists|pro-Reform]] candidates who had won their elections, without providing legal justification or factual evidence. Examples of such interventions by the Guardian Council are: 
* Annulment of the results in [[Khoy and Chaypareh (electoral district)|Khoy]] and [[Eslamabad-e Gharb]] (2000).<ref name="Samii"/>
* [[Rahman Kargosha]] (2000, [[Arak, Iran|Arak]]), certain ballots were voided in order to declare the conservative incumbent as the winner.<ref name="Samii">{{citation|first=Bill|last=Samii|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1342883.html|title=Iran Report|volume=3|number=24|date=19 June 2000|work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}</ref>
* [[Alireza Rajaei]] (2000, [[Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat, Eslamshahr and Pardis|Tehran]]), certain ballots were voided in order to declare the conservative incumbent as the winner.<ref>{{citation|first=Muhammad|last=Sahimi|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2009/08/patriots-and-reformists-behzad-nabavi-and-mostafa-tajzadeh.html|title=Patriots and Reformists: Behzad Nabavi and Mostafa Tajzadeh|publisher=Tehran Bureau|date=11 August 2009}}</ref>
* [[Minoo Khaleghi]] (2016, [[Isfahan (electoral district)|Isfahan]]), disqualified after winning the election.<ref>{{citation|first=Thomas|last=Erdbrink|title=She Won a Seat in Iran's Parliament, but Hard-Liners Had Other Plans|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/world/middleeast/iran-parliament-minoo-khaleghi.html|date=11 May 2016|work=The New York Times}}</ref>
* [[Khaled Zamzamnejad]] (2016, [[Bandar Lengeh County|Bandar Lengeh]]), election annulled.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-21 |title=ابطال آرای حوزه بندرلنگه‌ و بستک |url=http://donya-e-eqtesad.com/SiteKhan/1057977 |access-date=2022-04-01 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521085443/http://donya-e-eqtesad.com/SiteKhan/1057977 |archive-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Beytollah Abdollahi]] (2016, [[Ahar and Heris (electoral district)|Ahar and Heris]]), election annulled.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-30 |title=نتيجه نهايي مرحله دوم انتخابات مجلس در حوزه انتخابيه اهر و هریس |url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/3612113/نتيجه-نهايي-مرحله-دوم-انتخابات-مجلس-در-حوزه-انتخابيه-اهر-و-هریس |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=خبرگزاری مهر {{!}} اخبار ایران و جهان {{!}} Mehr News Agency |language=fa}}</ref>

==Composition==
The Council is composed of [[Faqīh|Islamic clerics]] and lawyers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.irisn.com/aza/aza.htm |title=irisn.com |publisher=Portal.irisn.com |access-date=2010-08-21 |archive-date=2010-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203170718/http://portal.irisn.com/aza/aza.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Membership is for phased six-year terms: half the membership changes every three years.

The Supreme Leader (Iran's [[Head of State]]) directly appoints the six clerics,<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm Article 91] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209085520/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm |date=2006-12-09}}</ref> and may dismiss them at will.<ref>[http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm Article 110] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209085520/http://mellat.majlis.ir/archive/constitution/english.htm |date=2006-12-09}}</ref> The head of the [[judicial system of Iran]] nominates six lawyers for confirmation by the [[Iranian Parliament|Majlis]].<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-6-2.html# |title=Iranian Government Constitution, English Text |publisher=Manou & Associates, Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617152445/http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/government/constitution-6-2.html |archive-date=2011-06-17}}</ref>

On 13 March 2021, the Iranian Constitutional Council officially launched its English service. The English website was inaugurated during the regular monthly press briefing of the spokesman of the Constitutional Council, Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei, in Tehran. The website, https://www.shora-gc.ir/en, has five main sections: News, Multimedia, Members, Legislation and the Constitution.

==Membership==
=== Current members ===

{{legend2|#4169E1|[[Iranian Principlists|Principlists/Conservatives]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{Col-begin}}{{Col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
|+ Clerics 
! colspan="2"|Name
! Seat up
! Ref
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|[[Ahmad Jannati]] {{small|(Secretary)}}
| 2028
|<ref name=members>{{cite web | url=https://www.shora-gc.ir/fa/members | title=اعضای شورای نگهبان }}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|[[Mehdi Shabzendedar Jahromi]]
| 2028
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|[[Mohammad-Reza Modarresi Yazdi]]
| 2028
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|[[Ahmad Hosseini Khorasani]]
|2031
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|[[Alireza Arafi]]
|2031
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|[[Ahmad Khatami]]
|2031
|<ref name=members/>
|}
{{Col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
|+ Jurists
! colspan="2"|Name
! Seat up
! Ref
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
||[[Siamak Rahpeyk]] {{small|(Vice Secretary)}} 
| 2028
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei
| 2028
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|Kheyrollah Parvin
| 2028
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|Gholamreza Molabeygi
|2031
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|Behzad Pourseyyed
|2031
|<ref name=members/>
|-
|style="background:#4169E1" |
|[[Hadi Tahan Nazif]] {{small|(Spokesman)}}
|2031
|<ref name=members/>
|}
{{Col-end}}

=== Historic membership ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Name
!colspan="8"|Period
|-
!1980–86
!1986–92
!1992–98
!1998–04
!2004–10
!2010–16
!2016–22
!2022–{{0|00}}
|-
!rowspan="22"|Clerics
|[[Ahmad Jannati]]
|colspan="8"|Yes
|-
|[[Mohammad Momen]]
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="5"|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mohammad Emami Kashani]]
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Gholamreza Rezvani]]
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="4"|Yes
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Abolghasem Khazali]]
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi]]
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|Abdolrahim Rabbani Shirazi
|Yes
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani]]
|colspan="1"|Yes
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Yousef Sanei]]
|Yes
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani]]
|Yes
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mohammad Mohammadi Gilani]]
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Reza Ostadi]]
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|-
|Mohammad-Hassan Ghadiri
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|-
|Hassan Taheri Khorramabadi
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mohammad Yazdi]]
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|colspan="3"|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mohammad Reza Modarresi-Yazdi]]
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|colspan="4"|Yes
|-
|Mohammad Mehdi Rabbani-Amlashi
|Yes
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Sadegh Larijani]]
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="1" {{n/a}}
|Yes (until 2021)
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mehdi Shabzendedar Jahromi]]
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|colspan="3"|Yes
|-
|[[Alireza Arafi]]
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|-
|[[Ahmad Khatami]]
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|-
|[[Ahmad Hosseini Khorasani]]
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|-
!rowspan="31"|Jurists
|Mohsen Hadavi
|Yes
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|-
|Mehdi Hadavi
|Yes
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|-
|Mohammad Salehi
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|-
|Ali Arad
|colspan="2"|Yes
|{{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|-
|Hossein Mehrpour
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|-
|Goudarz Eftekhar Jahromi
|Yes
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|-
|Jalal Madani
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|-
|Khosro Bijani
|colspan="3"|Yes
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|-
|Hassan Fakheri
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|-
|Mohammad Reza Alizadeh
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="5"|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Hassan Habibi]]
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="3"|Yes
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|-
|Ahmad Alizadeh
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|-
|Mohammad Reza Abbasifard
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Reza Zavare'i]]
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Ebrahim Azizi]]
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|-
|Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei 
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|{{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|-
|[[Gholamhossein Elham]] 
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Abbas Ka'bi]]
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="3" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mohsen Esmaeili]]
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|Mohammad Salimi
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Siamak Rahpeyk]]
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|colspan="3"|Yes
|-
|[[Hossein-Ali Amiri]]
|colspan="4" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|Sam Savadkouhi
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|colspan="1"|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|Nejatollah Ebrahimian
|colspan="5" {{n/a}}
|colspan="1"|Yes
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|-
|[[Fazlollah Mousavi]]
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[Mohammad Dehghan]]
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|Yes (until 2021)
|{{n/a}}
|-
|Mohammad-Hassan Sadeghi Moghaddam
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes (until 2025)
|-
|[[Hadi Tahan Nazif]]
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|colspan="2"|Yes
|-
|Gholamreza Molabeygi
|colspan="6" {{n/a}}
|Yes (from 2021)
|Yes
|-
|Kheyrollah Parvin
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|Yes
|- 
|Behzad Pourseyyed
|colspan="7" {{n/a}}
|Yes (from 2025)
|-
|colspan="10"|Note: Each period represents a six-year term from July to June and the number of members in a given period may exceed the maximum twelve-members quota because of the random rotations prescribed in the law.<ref>{{citation |title=Duality by Design: The Iranian Electoral System |author=Yasmin Alem |publisher=International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) |place=Washington, D.C. |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-931459-59-4 |page=19}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{portal|Iran|Politics}}
*[[History of political Islam in Iran]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.shora-gc.ir/ The official website of the ConstitutionalCouncil] {{in lang|fa}}
*[http://www.shora-gc.ir/Portal/Home/Default.aspx?CategoryID=f6adb1ab-ec3e-4c6a-8da4-13743357ca04 Photos of members from official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819164645/http://www.shora-gc.ir/Portal/Home/Default.aspx?CategoryID=f6adb1ab-ec3e-4c6a-8da4-13743357ca04 |date=2011-08-19 }} {{in lang|fa}}

{{National election commissions}}
{{Unicameral legislature of Islamic Republic of Iran}}

{{coord|35|41|16.36|N|51|24|4.35|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Government of Iran]]
[[Category:Law of Iran]]
[[Category:Constitutional courts]]
[[Category:Election commissions|Iran]]
[[Category:Sharia in Iran]]
[[Category:Legislature of Iran]]
[[Category:Politics of Iran]]
[[Category:Revolutionary institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran]]