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Majlis of Iran

Majlis (Parliament) was the lower level of the Iranian Legislature from 1906-1979, and after the Islamic Revolution when the Iranian Legislature became unicameral, the Majlis became the main legislative body.

It was first created with a clause in the 1906 Constitution and it was soon gaining power under the rule of the Pahlavi Kings. Noteworthy bills passed by the Majlis under the Pahlavi's include the Oil Nationalization Bill (March 15, 1951) and the Family Protection Law (1967; Gave women many basic rights such as custody of children in case of divorce). After the Islamic Revolution, the higher level Senate was dissolved and the lower level Majlis-Shorayee-Melli became the Majlis-Shorayee-Eslami. Even though the Majlis was known to voice opposition to both the Pahlavi and Ayatollah Khomeini regimes, it's power is not as great as the power of the legislative bodies in the United States. The location of the Majlis-Shorayee-Eslami is in a new building near Baharestan Square in central Tehran near the old Majlis building that was used from 1906-1979. From 1979-2002, the Majlis-Shorayee-Eslami convened at the building that used to house the Iranian Senate which is on Imam Khomeini (Sepah) Boulevard in central Tehran.