Why is Guardian Council scrutiny of elections influential?

• A. It screens out unfavorable candidates from consideration and can affect who wins.
• B. It schedules election dates.
• C. It screens out unfavorable candidates and can alter the ideological balance of elected bodies.
• D. It certifies the final vote tally.

Answer: (C)

The influence comes from how the Guardian Council controls who can even compete in elections. It reviews and can disqualify candidates for president and for parliament, based on legal qualifications and political acceptability. That screening narrows the field to candidates the Council approves, which often tilts the slate toward its preferred factions. As a result, the winners in elections reflect not just voters’ preferences but also who the Council allows to run, changing the ideological balance of the elected bodies. Scheduling the date or certifying the tally aren’t what drive this impact; the real effect is in vetting candidates and shaping who can win.