The Council is an advisory body for the Leader with an ultimate adjudicating power in disputes over legislation between the parliament and the Guardian Council. The Supreme Leader appoints its members, who are prominent religious, social and political figures.
In October 2005, the Supreme Leader gave the Expediency Council "supervisory" powers over all branches of government – delegating some of his own authority as is permitted in the constitution.
It is not clear exactly how much this will affect the Council's influence, although observers say it is likely to strengthen the position of its present chairman, former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was defeated in the 2005 presidential elections by Mahmoud Amadinejad.
Rafsanjani is a pillar of the Iranian establishment