Majlis (Parliament)
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2016-06-23T01:53:26-07:00
The 290 seat unicameral Consultative Assembly is one of the oldest institutions in the Iranian decision making structure. Initially a product of the Constitutional revolution of 1905, the first secular, democracy oriented revolution in all of Muslim majority countries, the Majlis (literally means a 'gathering') today comprises the Velvet Glove of Iran. The constitutional authority of the Majlis is to introduce bills, approve foreign aid amongst others.
The Consultative Assembly is systematically undermined by the constitution. Only the second article pertaining the Consultative Assembly (Article 72) clearly suggests that its actions must be constantly vetted by the Guardianship Council. The Constitution further outlines in article 93 that the Consultative assembly “ceases to possess legal status” without the Guardianship Council. All candidates to and all bills by the Consultative Assembly can by simply ruled out by the Guardian ship council. Moreover, the legal existence of the Assembly rests solely upon the Guardianship council, clearly depicting an unreciprocated arrangement of power.
The strength of the Majlis as a Velvet glove institution lies in its legitimacy. With the younger population (now about 65% of the total Iranian population) increasingly critical of the 'Iron Fist,' the relevance of the Majlis as a legitimate form of representation, despite its constitutional limitations, is growing. It is this inflating sense of social authority that has ensured high voter turnout in the most recent Parliamentary elections.
