What does the term velayat-e faqih imply for policy-making?

• A. It grants religious authority to the Leader to supervise and steer governance, ensuring policies conform to Islamic law.
• B. It denotes a legislative committee procedure.
• C. It limits the Leader's power.
• D. It is a purely secular governance framework.

Answer: (A)

Velayat-e faqih means guardianship by the jurist: the supreme leader, as a senior Islamic jurist, has ultimate authority to oversee and steer the state so that policies conform to Islamic law. This framework centralizes religious authority in the Leader, who interprets and applies Sharia to guide legislation, appointments, and major policy decisions, and can shape or veto policy to preserve religious legitimacy. Policy-making is thus tied to religious legitimacy and the Leader’s interpretations of Islamic law, not a purely secular process. It is not a legislative committee procedure, and it does not limit the Leader’s power; it expands the Leader’s authority to ensure conformity with Islamic principles.