What power does the Majles have regarding the national budget?

• A. It can withhold budgets
• B. It approves budgets without oversight
• C. It cannot touch budgets
• D. Budget is determined by the Guardian Council

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that the Majles controls fiscal policy by deciding whether to approve or withhold the national budget. In Iran, the government proposes the annual budget and the Majles has the power to review, amend, and ultimately approve or reject it. By withholding approval or attaching conditions, the Majles can prevent the government from spending funds, effectively using budget approval as a check on executive power.

So the strongest answer is that the Majles can withhold budgets. The other statements aren’t accurate: the Majles does not have no oversight, and it does not leave budgets entirely to the Guardian Council’s whim; the Guardian Council reviews legislation but does not unilaterally determine the budget. The government proposes the budget, and the Majles has the leverage to approve or veto it.