Who elects the Assembly of Experts?

• A. The Supreme Leader.
• B. The people elect clerics to the Assembly.
• C. The Guardian Council.
• D. The Majles.

Answer: (B)

In this system, the Assembly of Experts is filled by popular vote. Citizens vote to elect clerics to serve as members of that body, rather than selecting leaders or representatives from other institutions. The candidates must be clerics and typically go through eligibility checks by the Guardian Council, but the actual selection is done by the voters. The Assembly itself then holds the responsibility of electing the Supreme Leader and overseeing that position, which is why the idea that the people choose clerics to sit in the Assembly best captures who fills its seats. The other institutions — the Supreme Leader, the Guardian Council, and the Majles — play different roles in the political structure and do not directly elect the Assembly’s members.