About the Constitutional Council Research Institute

Constitutional Council Research Institute (2025)

 The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Leading Academic & Research Center for Constitutional Law

Leader of the Islamic Revolution:

 “The Establishment of A Strong Research Center Could Enhance Constitutional Council’s Accuracy.”

 (July 19, 2000)

History

In 1997, the Constitutional Council established a research center to provide scholarly and expert support in line with its Constitutional duties and competences. Tapping into the academic capacities of seminaries and universities, the center was officially upgraded to a Research Institute in 2013 with the approval of the Ministry of Science.

This scholarly institution – alongside the Constitutional Council – undertakes responsibilities such as providing advisory opinions on parliamentary legislation, clarifying the theoretical foundations and principles of the Constitution, documenting the Council’s opinions and conducting fundamental and applied research in constitutional law and the Constitutional Council’s functions.

Objectives:

• Providing expert content and scholarly support for the Constitutional Council
• Studying the theoretical foundations of Iran’s Constitution
• Documenting and publishing the Constitutional Council’s interpretive, Fiqhi, and legal opinions
• Analyzing issues and latest developments in public law, legislation, elections, and electoral monitoring
• Offering legal solutions to enhance the efficiency of the country’s foundational institutions

Structure

• Board of Trustees: Comprising Faqihs and jurists from the Constitutional Council, the Minister of Science, Research and Technology, and the Head of the Planning and Budget Organization
• Vice Chair, Scientific deputy and Executive deputy
• Specialized Research Groups in constitutional law, legislation, elections, interpretation, comparative studies, Islamic system-building, and more

Former Heads and Current Head of the Institute:

• Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi (deceased)
• Dr. Gholam-Hossein Elham
• Dr. Siamak Rahpeyk
• Dr. Abbass-Ali Kadkhodaei

Areas of Activity

1. Activities Related to the Constitutional Council

A) Expert Support

• Reviewing parliamentary legislation for compliance with the Constitution
• Analyzing government Statutes for constitutional compliance
• Preparing technical-specialized reports for the Constitutional Council’s Legal Advisory Assembly
• Conducting thematic studies on religious inquiries by the Administrative Justice Court
• Documenting and publishing the Council’s opinions, minutes from debates, and arguments in books, reports, and databases

B) Fundamental Research

• Conducting comparative studies on corresponding institutions across the globe
• Doing research legislative, electoral, and constitutional review
• Reviewing the Constitutional Council’s practices and its historical performances
• Calrifying the Council’s role in the Islamic Republic’s legislative, supervisory, and interpretive framework

C) Education and Promotion

• Organizing seminars, workshops, specialized courses, and legal schools on the Council’s functions
• Hosting the “Constitutional Council’s Student Simulation Competition” to train elites in constitutional law
• Producing multimedia content to introduce the Council’s duties and role

2. Activities Related to the Constitution

A) Fundamental and Applied Research

• Interpreting the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Conducting applied research on constitutional topics in Iran
• Reviewing minutes from previous constitutional debates and analyzing the principles of codification
• Doing comparative analysis on constitutional structures with other nations
• Conducting theoretical studies on interpretation, legitimacy, separation of powers, citizens’ rights, and other key concepts
• Publishing the “Public Law Knowledge” quarterly journal (ranked “A”)

B) Educational and Promotional Activities

• Organizing chairs for theoretical discussion, scientific criticism, expert meetings, and national and international symposia.
• Holding workshops to teach constitutional concepts to elites, researchers, professors, and the public
• Organizing the country’s “National Constitution Test”
• Designing specialized courses on constitutional law, public policy, and legislation

C) Media and Technology

• Producing documentaries, infographics, motion graphics, audiobooks, and educational software
• Launching specialized platforms to promote constitutional concepts
• Explaining citizens’ rights and Iran’s legal structure through modern media tools

3. Special Activities for Children and Youth

• Creating age-appropriate content on constitutional concepts (e.g., poetry, stories, games, comics, animations)
• Designing events and competitions for youth content production
• Conducting comparative examination of pedagogical approaches to legal concepts for children in international education systems.

• 4. International Activities

• Translating globally recognized public law books from English to Persian
• Conducting interviews with prominent law scholars
• Organizing international webinars with foreign law professors
• Hosting academic meetings, joint programs, and exchanges with international legal centers
• Welcoming foreign scholars, professors, and students to study Iran’s legal system

5. Publications

• Publishing 140+ specialized books
• Producing “Asas-Nameh” monthly
• Launching digital libraries and online sales platforms

Specialized Digital Platforms

• Constitutional Council Research Institute Portal
• Comprehensive Database of Constitutional Council Opinions
• “Public Law Knowledge” Journal Platform
• Research Institute Publications Platform
• Digital Library of the Research Institute

Key Statistics and Achievements

• Working with 60+ active researchers
• Publishing 47 journal issues
• Publishing 140+ books
• Publishing 370+ research papers
• Publishing 2,000+ expert and research reports
• Holding 500+ courses, seminars, workshops, and conferences
• Training 5,000+ students and researchers in public law
• Developing smart information systems and specialized databases

Closing Statement

The Research Institute serves as the scholarly and research arm of the Constitutional Council. Relying on elite expertise, it strives to be a leading academic authority in public and constitutional law. The Institute preserves the intellectual heritage of the Islamic Revolution in public law while fostering legal rationality in Iran.

In a world where constitutions define nations’ political and social life, the Constitutional Council Research Institute works diligently to solidify and deepen the status of Iran’s Constitution through precise, scientific, and up-to-date scholarship.