Senate of Iran
| Senate House of Iran | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
|
Ebrahim Hakimi (1951-1957) Hasan Taqizadeh (1957-1960) Mohsen Sadr (1960-1964) Jafar Sharif-Emami (1964-1978) Mohammad Sajadi (1978-1979) | |
| Seats | 100 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Senate, Tehran, Iran | |
The Senate of Iran (Persian: Kakh-e Majles-e Sena, کاخ مجلس سنا) was the upper house legislative chamber in Iran from 1949 to 1979. A bicameral legislature had been established in the 1906 Persian Constitutional Revolution but the Senate was not actually formed until after the Iran Constituent Assembly, 1949, as an expression of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's desire for more political power. The Senate was filled mainly with men who were supportive of the Shah's aims, as intended by Pahlavi.
The Senate was disbanded after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, when the new constitution established a unicameral legislature. As of 2015 the former Senate building was used by the Assembly of Experts.
History
Constitution
Established as per Chapter 3, Article 45 of the Persian Constitution of 1906,
| “ | The Members of this Assembly shall be chosen from amongst the well-informed, discerning, pious and respected persons of the Realm. Thirty of them shall be nominated on the part of His Imperial Majesty (fifteen of the people of Tehran, and fifteen of the people of the Provinces), and thirty by the Nation (fifteen elected by the people of Tehran, and fifteen by the people of the Provinces). | ” |
The Building
The Senate House of Iran was designed by architect Heydar Ghiaï in 1955.[1] The construction was led by Rahmat Safai, the dome being one of the most technically challenging projects in the entire endeavor.
The building is depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 100 rials banknote.[2]
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Interior Dome of Senate Chamber, Heydar Ghiaï, Architect
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Column of main Facade, Heydar Ghiaï, Architect
Members
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- Mahmoud Hessaby (1951–1963).
- Ali Dashti for 1954-1979.[3]
- Jafar Sharif-Emami, Prime Minister of Iran (1960-1961 & 1978), was a member of the Iranian Senate.[4][5] He was its President[6] for a number of years.
- Jamshid Aalam (1973–1979)
List of Speakers
| Name | Entered office | Left office | Party | |
| Senate House | ||||
| 1 | Ebrahim Hakimi | 19 August 1951 | 1 March 1957 | Party for Progress |
| 2 | Hasan Taqizadeh | 1 March 1957 | 1 September 1960 | Liberal Party |
| 3 | Mohsen Sadr | 11 September 1960 | 11 September 1964 | Socialist Party |
| 4 | Jafar Sharif-Emami | 11 September 1964 | 24 March 1978 | Rastakhiz |
| 5 | Mohammad Sajadi | 24 March 1978 | 10 February 1979 | National Front |
Dissolution
Following the Iranian revolution in 1979, the government became unicameral, the senate was dissolved and the new Majlis convened in the senate building.
Major events
- 1950 (February 9), first inaugural session presided over by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
- 1952, Mohammad Mosaddegh mangaged to obtain power to rule by decree — first, for a six-month period and then extended — due to his popularity. Later, he organized a plebiscite in 1953, won the votes, and dissolved both the Majlis and Senate.[7] Upon Mossadeq's ouster, the legislative bodies were revived.
- 1961, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi dissolved both the Majlis and Senate;[8] some time later they were restored.
- 1979 Senate approves the government of Shapour Bakhtiar.[9]
Bibliography
- M. Ghiai, Iran Senate House, Max Gerard Edt.Draeger Paris, 1976 ISBN 2-85119-008-3
See also
- Iran Constitution of 1906
- Iranian legislative election, 1975
- Unicameral legislature of Islamic Republic of Iran
References and notes
- ↑ Max Gérard, Iran Senate House Heydar Ghiaï, Editions Draeger, 1976
- ↑ Central Bank of Iran. Banknotes & Coins: 100 Rials. – Retrieved on 24 March 2009.
- ↑ Muslims (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices), page 213, ISBN 978-0-415-34882-9
- ↑ Iranian.com | Archive Pages
- ↑ [http://ibexpub.com/index.php?main_page=pubs_product_book_info&cPath=5&products_id=89 Memoirs of Sharif-Emami, Prime Minister Persian Language ISBN 0-932885-22-5
- ↑ IRANIAN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
- ↑ Historical Setting: MOSSADEQ AND OIL NATIONALIZATION
- ↑ Confidential, U.S. State Department, Central Files IRAN, 1960-January 1963, Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs
- ↑ "Iranian senate's approval of Shahpour Bakhtiar's government noted" ABC Evening News for Monday, Jan 15, 1979
Coordinates: 35°41′16.82″N 51°23′58.72″E / 35.6880056°N 51.3996444°E