On 2-3 December 1979, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran was ratified by a popular referendum. In this referendum, 99.5 present of Iranian voters approved the constitution. The separation of powers is addressed in various articles, primarily in Articles 44, 45, and 57 of the constitution. These articles outline the distribution of powers among the three branches of government: the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial while the Supreme Leader is the country's head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
- Executive Branch:
- President: Directly elected by the people, serves a four-year term. He or she is responsible for the execution and implementation of the laws. The President oversees the executive branch of the government which includes various ministries and agencies
- Ministers: proposed by the President but require approval from the parliament. Each minister heads a specific government ministry and implements policies within their respective portfolios: (1) Agriculture; (2) Communication and Information Technology; (3) Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare; (4) Culture and Islamic Guidance; (5) Defense and Armed Forces Logistics; (6) Economic Affairs and Finance; (7) Education; (8) Energy; (9) Foreign Affairs; (10) Health and Medical Education; (11) Higher Education, Research and Technology; (12) Industry, Mine and Trade; (13) Intelligence; (14) Interior; (15) Justice; (16) Petroleum; (17) Roads and Urban Development; (18) Science, Research and Technology; (19) Sports and Youth.
- Legislative Branch:
- Parliament (Majlis): Unicameral legislature with 290 members directly elected by the people for four-year terms.
- Legislative functions: drafts and enacts laws; approves the national budget; ratifies international treaties.
- Oversight and accountability functions: questions and interpolates government officials; investigates government and public affairs; monitors implementation of laws; electoral oversight.
- MPs functions: Members of Parliament act as representatives of their constituencies, voicing their concerns and advocating for their interests; foreign policy engagement (Parliament participates in shaping Iran's foreign policy through inter-parliamentary dialogues and cooperation with foreign delegations).
- Assembly of Experts: An 88-member body indirectly elected by the people every eight years. Its primary function is to elect, monitor, and potentially remove the Supreme Leader.
- Judiciary Branch:
- Supreme Court: Highest judicial authority, headed by the Chief Justice appointed by the Supreme Leader.
- Lower Courts: Handle various civil and criminal cases across different levels.