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The
constitution has provided for the convening of an Assembly of
Experts (Majlis-e Khobregan) to choose a leader in the event of
Imam khomeini's demise, and to determine if the leader, or any
member of the Leadership Council, is capable of fulfilling his
duties. This will be done by continuously reviewing his/their
performance (Articles 108 and 111).
The idea of an
assembly of experts was born out of the post-revolution debates
concerning a constituent assembly for drawing up a constitution.
When the majority of the electorate voted for an Islamic
republic in preference over a monarchical regime in a two-way
referendum in April 1979, it was decided to submit drafts of the
constitution to an assembly for debating and later putting the
outcome to a referendum.
Some political
groups and the provisional government stood for convention of a
full constituent assembly with over 600 members from all over
the country. However, the clerical leaders in particular
believed that a constituent assembly would waste much time, and
would prolong the debates for months or even for years. Imam
Khomeini intervened in favour of the second group, and ordered
elections for a smaller assembly, called the Assembly of
Experts, with over 70 members.
Consequently, the
First Assembly of Experts was convened and after debating a
draft constitution, which the provisional government submitted,
and amending it extensively, put the final product to a
referendum on 2 December 1979. The assembly was then disbanded.
The balloting for
the Second Assembly of Experts, as required by the constitution,
was held in December 1982 for the election of 83 members, of
whom 76 were elected in the first round and the rest in the
second round. A number of members passed away in the past few
years, being substituted in April 1988 by-elections.
MEMBERSHIP AND TERM
Members of the
Assembly of Experts do not face any restrictions concerning
their engagement in other occupations, such as membership of
parliament or holding government positions. As a result, a good
number of leading officials are members of the Assembly of
Experts. But, unlike the First Assembly of Experts, only clerics
are members of the second assembly.
The Assembly of
Experts is required to have one annual session. It is required
by law to meet in Qom, but up to now its sessions have been held
in Tehran out of convenience. Nevertheless, the Secretariat of
the Assembly of Experts is based in Qom. The term of the
Assembly of Experts is eight years. |