64

Article 64 (1979 Edition): There shall be 270 representatives in the National Consultative Assembly. Every ten years, if the population of the nation increases, at each voting district, one new representative will be added for each additional 150,000 people. Every ten years, if the population of each minority group increases, a new representative will be added for every additional 150,000 people. The Zoroastrians and the Jews each elect one representative; the Armenian Christians of the North and the South each elect one representative. The law determines the regulations pertinent to the elections. 16 In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Before the holy Qur’an, and the Exalted and powerful God, I take an oath on God the exalted and powerful. Relying on human dignity I pledge that I will be the guardian of the sanctity of Islam, and the protector of the achievements of the Islamic Revolution of the Iranian people, and the foundations of the Islamic Republic. I pledge to protect, as a just trustee, the trust that the nation has accorded to us; to abide by justice and virtue in performing the duties of a representative; to be always committed to the independence and advancement of the country, the protection of the rights of the nation, and the service to the people; to defend the constitution; to keep in my words, writings, and opinions the independence of the nation, the freedom of the people and the protection of their interest. Representatives of religious minorities shall take this oath while mentioning their own holy book. Representatives who are not present at the first session must observe the oath ceremony at the first session they attend.