Article 71
The Islamic Consultative Assembly can establish
laws on all matters, within the limits of its competence as laid down in
the Constitution.
Article 72
The Islamic Consultative Assembly cannot enact
laws contrary to the usual and ahkam of the official religion of the country
or to the Constitution. It is the duty of the Guardian Council to determine
whether a violation has occurred, in accordance with Article 96.
Article 73
The interpretation of ordinary laws falls within
the competence of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The intent of this
Article does not prevent the interpretations that judges may make in the
course of cassation.
Article 74
Government bills are presented to the Islamic
Consultative Assembly after receiving the approval of the Council of Ministers.
Members' bills may be introduced in the Islamic Consultative Assembly if
sponsored by at least fifteen members.
Article 75
Members' bills and proposals and amendments to
governments bills proposed by members that entail the reduction of the
public income or the increase of public expenditure may be introduced in
the Assembly only if means for compensating for the decrease in income
or for meeting the new expenditure are also specified.
Article 76
The Islamic Consultative Assembly has the right
to investigate and examine all the affairs of the country.
Article 77
International treaties, protocols, contracts,
and agreements must be approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Article 78
All changes in the boundaries of the country are
forbidden, with the exception of minor amendments in keeping with the interests
of the country, on condition that they are not unilateral, do not encroach
on the independence and territorial integrity of the country, and receive
the approval of four-fifths of the total members of the Islamic Consultative
Assembly.
Article 79
The proclamation of martial law is forbidden.
In case of war or emergency conditions akin to war, the government has
the right to impose temporarily certain necessary restrictions, with the
agreement of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. In no case can such restrictions
last for more than thirty days; if the need for them persists beyond this
limit, the government must obtain new authorization for them from the Assembly.
Article 80
The taking and giving of loans or grants-in-aid,
domestic and foreign, by the government, must be approved by the Islamic
Consultative Assembly.
Article 81
The granting of concessions to foreigners for the formation of companies
or institutions dealing with commerce, industry, agriculture, services
or mineral extraction, is absolutely forbidden.
Article 82
The employment of foreign experts is forbidden, except in cases of necessity
and with the approval of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Article 83
Government buildings and properties forming part of the national heritage
cannot be transferred except with the approval of the Islamic Consultative
Assembly; that, too, is not applicable in the case of irreplaceable treasures.
Article 84
Every representative is responsible to the entire nation and has the
right to express his views on all internal and external affairs of the
country.
Article 85
The right of membership is vested with the individual, and is not transferable
to others. The Assembly cannot delegate the power of legislation to an
individual or committee. But whenever necessary, it can delegate the power
of legislating certain laws to its own committees, in accordance with Article
72. In such a case, the laws will be implemented on a tentative basis for
a period specified by the Assembly, and their final approval will-rest
with the Assembly. Likewise, the Assembly may, in accordance with Article
72, delegate to the relevant committees the responsibility for permanent
approval of articles of association of organizations, companies, government
institutions, or organizations affiliated to the government and or invest
the authority in the government. In such a case, the government approvals
must not be inconsistent with the principles and commandments of the official
religion in the country and or the Constitution which question shall be
determined by the Guardian Council in accordance with what is stated in
Article 96. In addition to this, the government approvals shall not be
against the laws and other general rules of the country and, while calling
for implementation, the same shall be brought to the knowledge of the Speaker
of the Islamic Consultative Assembly for his study and indication that
the approvals in question are not inconsistent with the aforesaid rules.
Article 86
Members of the Assembly are completely free in expressing their views
and casting their votes in the course of performing their duties as representatives,
and they cannot be prosecuted or arrested for opinions expressed in the
Assembly or votes cast in the course of performing their duties as representatives.
Article 87
The President must obtain, for the Council of Ministers, after being
formed and before all other business, a vote of confidence from the Assembly.
During his incumbency, he can also seek a vote of confidence for the Council
of Ministers from the Assembly on important and controversial issues.
Article 88
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. This answer must not be delayed more than one month in the
case of the President and ten days in the case of the minister, except
with an excuse deemed reasonable by the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Article 89
1.Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly can interpolate the Council of Ministers or an individual minister in instances they deem necessary. Interpolations can be tabled if they bear the signatures of at least ten members. The Council of Ministers or interpolated minister must be present in the Assembly within ten days after the tabling of the interpolation in order to answer it and seek a vote of confidence. If the Council of Ministers or the minister concerned fails to attend the Assembly, the members who tabled the interpolation will explain their reasons, and the Assembly will declare a vote of no- confidence if it deems it necessary. If the Assembly does not pronounce a vote of confidence, the Council of Ministers or the minister subject to interpolation is dismissed. In both cases, the ministers subject to interpolation cannot become members of the next Council of Ministers formed immediately afterwards.
2.In the event at least one-third of the members of the Islamic Consultative
Assembly interpolate the President concerning his executive responsibilities
in relation with the Executive Power and the executive affairs of the country,
the President must be present in the Assembly within one month after
the tabling of the interpolation in order to give adequate explanations
in regard to the matters raised. In the event, after hearing the
statements of the opposing and favoring members and the reply of
the President, two-thirds of the members of the Assembly declare a vote
of no confidence, the same will be communicated to the Leadership for information
and implementation of Section (10) of Article 110 of the Constitution.
Article 90
Whoever has a complaint concerning the work of the Assembly or the executive
power, or the judicial power can forward his complaint in writing to the
Assembly. The Assembly must investigate his complaint and give a satisfactory
reply. In cases where the complaint relates to the executive or the judiciary,
the Assembly must demand proper investigation in the matter and an adequate
explanation from them, and announce the results within a reasonable time.
In cases where the subject of the complaint is of public interest, the
reply must be made public.
Article 91
With a view to safeguard the Islamic ordinances and the Constitution,
in order to examine the compatibility of the legislation passed by the
Islamic Consultative Assembly with Islam, a council to be known as the
Guardian Council is to be constituted with the following composition:
Article 92
Members of the Guardian Council are elected to serve for a period of
six years, but during the first term, after three years have passed, half
of the members of each group will be changed by lot and new members will
be elected in their place.
Article 93
The Islamic Consultative Assembly does not hold any legal status if
there is no Guardian Council in existence, except for the purpose of approving
the credentials of its members and the election of thee six jurists on
the Guardian Council.
Article 94
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.
Article 95
In cases where the Guardian Council deems ten days inadequate for completing
the process of review and delivering a definite opinion, it can request
the Islamic Consultative Assembly to grant an extension of the time limit
not exceeding ten days.
Article 96
The determination of compatibility of the legislation passed by the
Islamic Consultative Assembly with the laws of Islam rests with the majority
vote of the fuqaha' on the Guardian Council; and the determination of its
compatibility with the Constitution rests with the majority of all the
members of the Guardian Council.
Article 97
In order to expedite the work, the members of the Guardian Council may
attend the Assembly and listen to its debates when a government bill or
a members' bill is under discussion. When an urgent government or members'
bill is placed on the agenda of the Assembly, the members of the Guardian
Council must attend the Assembly and make their views known.
Article 98
The authority of the interpretation of the Constitution is vested with
the Guardian Council, which is to be done with the consent of three-fourths
of its members.
Article 99
The Guardian Council has the responsibility of supervising the elections of the Assembly of Experts for Leadership, the President of the Republic, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and the direct recourse to popular opinion and referenda.