Government (Iran)
=================


     Long-form name:
         Islamic Republic of Iran
     Type:
         theocratic republic
     Capital:
         Tehran
     Administrative divisions:
         24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
         Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Machall va Bakhtiari,
         Ecsfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan,
         Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Achmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
         Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
     Independence:
         1 April 1979, Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed
     Constitution:
         2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and
         eliminate the prime ministership
     Legal system:
         the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
     National holiday:
         Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
     Executive branch:
         cleric (faqih), president, Council of Ministers
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami)
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court
     Leaders:
       Cleric and functional Chief of State:
         Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali HOSEINI-KHAMENEI (since 4
         June 1989)
       Head of Government:
         President Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI (since 3 August 1989)
     Political parties and leaders:
         there are at least 18 licensed parties; the three most important are -
         Tehran Militant Clergy Association, Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI; Militant
         Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar
         MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Fedaiyin Islam Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 15
     Elections:
       President:
         last held July 1989 (next to be held April 1993); results - Ali Akbar
         HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI was elected with only token opposition
       Islamic Consultative Assembly:
         last held 8 April 1992 (next to be held April 1996); results - percent of
         vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total) number of seats by party NA
     Communists:
         1,000 to 2,000 est. hardcore; 15,000 to 20,000 est. sympathizers; crackdown
         in 1983 crippled the party; trials of captured leaders began in late 1983
     Other political or pressure groups:
         groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Hizballah,
         Hojjatiyeh Society, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students
         Following the Line of the Imam; armed political groups that have been almost
         completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq
         Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Kurdish Democratic Party; the Society
         for the Defense of Freedom