THE NATURE AND CONCEPT OF CONSTITUTION IN THE DEBATES OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FIRST IRANIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor, Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

The constitutional issues, since the Constitutional Movement triumph in Iran in 1906 until now, have been discussed, as there are disagreements on them, from the meaning of constitution to it causes and even its successes and failures. These disagreements and ambiguities, in the field of social action, have led to confusion. Neither breaking with the tradition nor constitutional innovations, and even not the effort of researchers did not provide clear answers to these disagreements. A review of the First Constitutional Assembly’s debates can resolve some of these disagreements and ambiguities. As the representatives of that assembly were selected by various guilds, their views provide us with their clients’ vision of the Constitution. The order and sequence of debates and legislations reflect an understanding of the factors influencing the success or failure of the Constitution in representatives’ mind. In other words, these discussions reveal constitutionalists’ layers of demands that conform with requirements of a modern society. Constitutionalists’ actions and the proceedings of the assembly complement each others.

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