Terms
This form of government gives religious leaders political authority.
What is a theocracy?
This movement created the Majles.
What was the Constitutional Revolution?
This is Iran’s elected parliament.
What is the Majles?
This voting system is used for Majles elections.
What is First-Past-the-Post (FPTP)?
This crisis led the U.S. to cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
What is the US Hostage Crisis?
This high-ranking Shi’a clerical title belonged to Ruhollah Khomeini.
What is an ayatollah?
This 1953 event removed Prime Minister Mosaddegh and restored the Shah.
What was Operation Ajax?
This official is Iran’s head of government but ranks below another leadership position.
Who is the President of Iran?
This constitutional article gives the Guardian Council authority to supervise elections.
What is Article 99?
Iran is a founding member of this oil organization.
What is OPEC?
This volunteer paramilitary group under the IRGC enforces Sharia law and suppresses protests.
What is the Basij?
This reform program modernized Iran but increased inequality and political repression.
What was the White Revolution?
This unelected body can veto laws and approve or disqualify candidates.
What is the Guardian Council?
This explains why reformists and women are frequently excluded from ballots.
What is candidate vetting?
This reform movement protested election fraud and demanded political liberalization.
What was the Green Movement?
This elite branch of the IRGC conducts foreign military and intelligence operations.
What is the Qods?
The post-revolutionary conflict that the Islamic Republic used to justify emergency powers and consolidate theocratic control.
What is the Iran–Iraq War?
This institution resolves disputes between the Majles and Guardian Council.
What is the Expediency Council?
This feature most directly limits Iran’s adherence to democratic principles.
What is restricted electoral competition?
These economic reforms, including fuel subsidy cuts, triggered mass protests.
What is economic liberalization?
This principle, established by Khomeini, grants political authority to a high-ranking cleric and limits popular sovereignty.
What is Velayat-e Faqih?
Clue: In this year, students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking hostages and fueling decades of anti-American sentiment.
What is 1979?
This body is constitutionally empowered to remove the Supreme Leader but never has.
What is the Assembly of Experts?
In Iran’s 290-seat Majles, the number of seats reserved for non-Muslim religious minorities.
What are 5 seats?
This 2026 military campaign, begun on February 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, has led to widespread regional conflict and the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. (Need the specific name)
What is Operation Epic Fury?