Guardian Council
The Guardian Council (also called Council of Guardians or Constitutional Council, Persian: شورای نگهبان, romanized: Shourā-ye Negahbān) is a 12-member council that wields considerable power and influence in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Constitution of Iran mandates the Council to: Veto unconstitutional legislation passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly; Supervise elections; Approve or disqualify candidates seeking to run in local, parliamentary, presidential, or Assembly of Experts elections.