Confirmation of Expressing Loyalty to the Constitution and the Principle of Absolute Guardianship of the Jurist

Expressing loyalty to the Constitution, especially its immutable and key principles, is a public commitment. However, this commitment is more sensitively addressed for individuals who are government officials, depending on their level and position within the governance structure. For this reason, one of the general conditions stated in the regulations governing the employment and entry of individuals into government agencies and sensitive positions, including membership in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, is loyalty to the Constitution and its most fundamental principle, namely the absolute guardianship of the jurist. In this context, Clause 4 of Article 28 of the Election Law of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, enacted in 1999 with subsequent amendments, stipulates that one of the conditions for candidates for representation is "expressing loyalty to the Constitution and the progressive principle of the guardianship of the jurist." The main question of this article is how this condition is established. The answer to this question, derived through a descriptive-analytical method and preliminary examination of the concept of loyalty and the basis of this condition, is that loyalty to the Constitution is among the natural rights of governance and is a commitment of the nation, especially in the capacity of government officials. It is expressed both verbally and practically, and it has degrees that must be established through common knowledge (ordinary knowledge or confident suspicion).