president of Iran from 2005 to present a 73-man assembly of clerics elected directly by the people Bush's statement referring to Iran, Iraq, and North Korea, that created a stir of controversy regarding Iran's international relations with western nations a loosely-organized military that is formally part of the Revolutionary Guards a faith which is believed to be an unholy offshoot of Islam by many Shiites; has long been a particular object of religious persecution most important document that legitimizes the state today (along with its amendments of 1989); its preamble reflects the importance of religion for the legitimacy of the state, affirming faith in God, Divine Justice, the Qur'an, the Prophet Muhammad, the Twelve Imams, and the eventual return of the Hidden Imam merchants and local industrialists affected by British liberalism demanded a written constitution from the shah; established direct elections, separation of powers, laws made by an elected legislature, popular sovereignty, and a Bill of Rights launched by Shia leaders after the endorsement of the 1979 constitution; outlined goals that were very similar to Mao's goals - aimed to purify the country from not only the shah's regime, but also from secular values and behaviors, particularly those with western origins famous statement by Ayatollah Khomeini, which expresses his disdain of economics for policymakers and affirming the superiority of religious, rather than secular leaders the Islamic Republic's policy towards women, which dictates that divorce and custody laws now follow Islamic standards that favor males, women must wear scarves and long coats in public, and they cannot leave the country without the consent of male relatives; however, women can get an education and participate in some occupations

1. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

president of Iran from 2005 to present

2. Assembly of Religious Experts

a 73-man assembly of clerics elected directly by the people

3. "axis of evil"

Bush's statement referring to Iran, Iraq, and North Korea, that created a stir of controversy regarding Iran's international relations with western nations

4. Basij

a loosely-organized military that is formally part of the Revolutionary Guards

5. Baha'i

a faith which is believed to be an unholy offshoot of Islam by many Shiites; has long been a particular object of religious persecution

6. Constitution of 1979

most important document that legitimizes the state today (along with its amendments of 1989); its preamble reflects the importance of religion for the legitimacy of the state, affirming faith in God, Divine Justice, the Qur'an, the Prophet Muhammad, the Twelve Imams, and the eventual return of the Hidden Imam

7. Constitutional Revolution of 1905-09

merchants and local industrialists affected by British liberalism demanded a written constitution from the shah; established direct elections, separation of powers, laws made by an elected legislature, popular sovereignty, and a Bill of Rights

8. Cultural Revolution

launched by Shia leaders after the endorsement of the 1979 constitution; outlined goals that were very similar to Mao's goals - aimed to purify the country from not only the shah's regime, but also from secular values and behaviors, particularly those with western origins

9. "economics is for donkeys"

famous statement by Ayatollah Khomeini, which expresses his disdain of economics for policymakers and affirming the superiority of religious, rather than secular leaders

10. equality-with-difference

the Islamic Republic's policy towards women, which dictates that divorce and custody laws now follow Islamic standards that favor males, women must wear scarves and long coats in public, and they cannot leave the country without the consent of male relatives; however, women can get an education and participate in some occupations