The system of government in Iran is Islamic Republic. The president, the members of the Parliament, the representatives of the City and Village Councils, and Experts' Assembly members are elected in free elections through public votes.
The government has three branches; namely the executive, legislative, and judiciary, each of which functions independently. Let us briefly go over the structure of the Iranian government:Error processing SSI file

The highest authority in the Islamic system of Iran is the supreme jurisprudent who determines the general guidelines of the country. The leader must also verify the president after he is elected. The leader is in turn appointed by the Assembly of Experts whose members are elected through public votes.
Late Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Revolution, was the first religious and political leader of the Islamic system. The Imam managed to replace the monarchical regime with the popular Islamic Republic system of Feb. 11, 1979. Ayatollah Khomeini was deceased in 1989. After the demise of the Imam, the Assembly of Experts selected Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as the leader of the Islamic Revolution. Ayatollah Khamenei has maintained this position ever since. He is among the top religious scholars of the Shiite world and the staunchest advocate of the Islamic Revolution. His right hand was seriously injured in a bomb incident while delivering a speech for the poor people of a district in Tehran. According to the Constitution of the republic, the leader supervises the activities of the three branches of the government. Error processing SSI file

The second highest ranking authority in the Islamic system of Iran is the president. He is the head of the executive branch and duty-bound to implement the outlines of the Constitution. The chief executive is elected through direct public votes for a period of four years. He chooses the cabinet members who should in turn win the parliament vote of confidence. Currently, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran is Dr.Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Error processing SSI file

Some 290 Majlis deputies are directly selected by public votes. The tenure of members of the parliament is a period of four years. The president must win the vote of confidence of the parliament for appointing cabinet members. Error processing SSI file

The watchdog Guardian Council was established in a bid to ensure that Majlis ratifications comply with Islamic tenets. The body comprises six jurisprudents appointed by the leader, and six legal experts chosen by the parliament. The tenure of the members of the Council is a period of six years. All Majlis ratifications are monitored by the Guardian Council for a final verification. Error processing SSI file

The official flag of Iran, based on Article 18 of the Constitution, is made up of three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white (middle), and red (bottom). The national emblem, which is a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, is centered in the white band in red. The motto Allah-o-Akbar (God is the Greatest) in white Arabic script is written 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band, and 11 times along the top edge of the red band. Error processing SSI file

The national anthem of Iran is recited in all cultural, political, economic, social, and athletic events. This anthem is symbolic of the identity, solidarity, independence, and freedom of all people whose hearts beat for Iran. It also epitomizes the country's territorial integrity and reveres the Imam and the martyrs.