Majlis of Iran
The Majlis (مجلس), which means parliament or assembly in the Arabic language, was the lower house of the Iranian Legislature from 1906 to 1979. After the Islamic Revolution, when the Iranian Legislature became unicameral, the Majlis became the main legislative body.
It was first created by a clause in the 1906 Iranian Constitution and soon gained power under the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty. Noteworthy bills passed by the Majlis under the Pahlavis include the Oil Nationalization Bill (March 15, 1951) and the Family Protection Law (1967), which gave women many basic rights such as custody of children in case of divorce. After the Iranian Revolution, the upper house (Senate) was dissolved and the lower level National Counsultative Assembly (مجلس شورای ملی) became the Islamic Counsultative Assembly (مجلس شورای اسلامی). Even though the Majlis has been known to voice opposition to both the Pahlavis and Islamic Republic policies, its power is not as great as that of the legislative bodies in the United States.
Women were not allowed to vote or be elected to the Majlis until 1963. This reform was opposed by some Islamic clerics, including Ayatollah Khomeini, who claimed that that it was a plot to bring women to the public society, and out of the protection of the traditional family. The events led to a revolt on June 5, 1963 and the exile of Khomeini to Iraq. The twenty-first National Consultative Assembly, which included female representatives, opened on October 6, 1963.
From 1979, the Islamic Consultative Assembly has convened at the building that used to house the Iranian Senate, which is on Imam Khomeini Boulevard in central Tehran. A new building has been built for the Assmebly near Baharestan Square in central Tehran, near the old Majlis building that was used from 1906 to 1979, but the Majlis members of 2000 to 2004 voted against moving there, protesting the very high expenses.
See also Iran Majlis election, 2004.
