History of Preparation the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran

Upon the strengthening probability of the fall of Pahlavi regime and the emergence of a new system of government on the threshold of the Islamic Revolution, the preparation of the Constitution drew the attention of the Leader of Islamic Revolution and revolutionary groups. Since the new Constitution was regarded as the basis for rearrangement and clarification of the relations between the branches of government in the new structure of power in Iran, various political movements with a share in Islamic Revolution got involved in the issue with full strength to have maximum role and share in administrative affairs of the country. It was on this basis that new confrontations emerged among various discourses rising to power after the revolution. The disputes over the way of approval of the Constitution by the people and the presence or absence of the Constituent Assembly, discourse disputes on “Wilayat Faqih” or Islamic jurisprudence and provisions for its inclusion in the Constitution, requests for dissolution of the parliament and reviewing the Constitution by the dominated discourse were among the serious confrontations. Finally, a referendum was held to garner people’s opinion and it was approved by the absolute majority of the people who caste “Yes” votes in the ballot boxes. It remained unchanged for a decade, when upon a decree of Imam Khomeini, some jurists were assigned to review the Constitution and make amendments.