2006年VOA标准英语-Guardian Council Holds Great Power in Iran

By Gary Thomas
Tehran
15 July 2006

Iran's government has long been a source of fascination¹ and frustration² for international political analysts³. Figuring out how decisions are made in the theocratic⁴ system is a difficult exercise.  VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports from Tehran on one powerful body in Iran that both makes and breaks decisions.

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An unidentified lawmaker kisses the hand of head of the Guardian⁵ Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati  
  
A modern but modest office building in downtown Tehran houses the Guardian Council.  Reclusive and secretive, the power of the 12-member Guardian Council is reckoned by both Western and Iranian analysts to be second only to that of Supreme⁶ Leader Ali Khamenei.

The Council can overturn legislation by the Majlis, or Parliament, and approve or reject candidates for public office.

In a rare briefing that included foreign as well as Iranian media, the Council's new spokesman, Abbas Ali Kadkhodai, said the Guardian Council's main job is to interpret the constitution in accordance with Islam.

Six members of the Council are senior Islamic clerics named by the supreme leader, and six are jurists nominated by the judiciary and confirmed by the Majlis. Each council member serves a six-year term on a staggered basis, so half the membership changes every three years. The Council is currently controlled by hardline conservatives and is headed by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati.

The Guardian Council's power has proved controversial.  In last year's presidential election, the Council approved only six candidates out of more than 1,000 who applied⁷ to run, none of them from the reformist camp.  After an outcry, the council relented and allowed two more candidates on the ballot⁸.

During the administration of the previous president, Mohammed Khatemi, reformists tried to curb⁹ the power of the Guardian Council to vet¹⁰ candidates for office, but their efforts went nowhere.

The United States has been sharply critical of the Guardian Council, calling it an unelected, undemocratic body.  The criticism was especially acute during last year's presidential election.

But spokesman Kadkhodai likened the Guardian Council to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is appointed by the president and not elected either, he said, and has the power to interpret laws, just like the Guardian Council.

He also said that the Supreme Court has also intervened in political matters, noting that the court's five-to-four decision gave the disputed 2000 U.S. presidential election to George Bush.

1 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

2 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 theocratic   

adj.神权的，神权政治的

参考例句：

• The priest caste wields considerable power in this rigidly theocratic society. 祭司阶层(priestcaste)在这个严格的神权社会中掌握着相当大的权力。 来自互联网
• The heartland of Islam, by contrast, is theocratic. 相反，伊斯兰教的核心地带则是神权政治。 来自互联网

5 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

6 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

7 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

8 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

9 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

10 vet   

n.兽医，退役军人；vt.检查

参考例句：

• I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
• Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。