Guardian Council

The Guardian Council (Shura-ye Negahban) is a 12-member constitutional body with three mandates: vetting legislation for conformity with Islamic law and the constitution; supervising elections; and approving or disqualifying all candidates for parliament, presidency, and Assembly of Experts. Six members are Islamic jurists appointed directly by the Supreme Leader; six are civil lawyers nominated by the Chief Justice (also appointed by the Supreme Leader) and confirmed by parliament. Members serve six-year terms in staggered cohorts.