Referendums in Iran

Legal status

There is nothing in Persian Constitution of 1906 about the referendum but at the time enforcing this law (until 1978), two referendums were held (1953 and 1963). Third referendum (1979) was held when the Persian Constitution of 1906 had been fallen into desuetude with a victory of the revolution and as yet the new constitution had not been enacted for Iran. The fourth referendum (1979) was held for enactment the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the fifth referendum (1989) was to review it. In Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, referendum is part of popular sovereignty and was provided about it in Principles 1, 6, 59, 99, 110, 123, 132, 177 of the constitution. According to the referendum act of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran (1989), referendum will be held with the proposal of the president or 100 members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and enactment of at least two-thirds of the total number of Members of them. The Ministry of Interior is responsible for holding referendum and Guardian Council for monitoring and confirmation it.