an, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin,
Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

National holiday: Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of
government

Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)

head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani
(since 3 August 1997); First Vice President Dr. Mohammad Reza
AREF-YAZDI (since NA August 2001)

cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval

elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by
the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 8 June 2001 (next to be held NA
2005)

election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani reelected
president; percent of vote - (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 77%

Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or
Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seats
with the 18 February 2000 election; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 18 February-NA April 2000 (next to be held NA
2004)

election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - reformers
170, conservatives 45, and independents 10; 65 seats were up for
runoff election on 5 May 2000 (reformers 52, conservatives 10,
independents 3)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: the following organizations appeared
to have achieved considerable success at elections to the sixth
Majlis in early 2000: Assembly of the Followers of the Imam's Line,
Freethinkers' Front, Islamic Iran Participation Front, Moderation
and Development Party, Servants of Construction Party, Society of
Self-sacrificing Devotees

Political pressure groups and leaders: active student groups include
the pro-reform "Organization for Strengthening Unity" and "the Union
of Islamic Student Societies'; groups that generally support the
Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic
Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, and the
Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups include the