What are the main components of Iran's constitutional structure for checks and balances?

• A. The Majles rests alone with no checks or balances.
• B. The Majles, the Presidency, and the Judiciary are subject to the Guardian Council's veto over all legislation.
• C. The Majles, the Presidency, and the Judiciary, with Guardian Council oversight and Expediency Council for dispute resolution.
• D. There is no formal system of checks and balances.

Answer: (D)

Iran’s constitutional system blends elected institutions with supervisory bodies to create a checks-and-balances framework. The Majles (parliament) can propose and pass laws, but the Guardian Council reviews those laws to ensure they conform to the Constitution and Islamic law, and it can veto or require changes before they become law. The Presidency and the Judiciary operate within this framework, with the Guardian Council also overseeing qualifications and compatibility for office and judicial matters. When stalemates or conflicts arise between the Majles and the Guardian Council, the Expediency Discernment Council steps in to resolve the dispute and provide a final policy direction. This combination—Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary all subject to Guardian Council oversight, with the Expediency Council handling disputes—best describes Iran’s checks and balances.