Editing Assembly of Experts (section)

===In the constitution===
According to Article 111 of the [[Iranian Constitution]], the assembly is in charge of supervising, dismissing and electing the Supreme Leader.

<blockquote>Whenever the Leader becomes incapable of fulfilling his constitutional duties, or loses one of the qualifications mentioned in Articles 5 and 109, or it becomes known that he did not possess some of the qualifications initially, he will be dismissed. The authority of determination in this matter is vested with the experts specified in Article 108. In the event of the death, or resignation or dismissal of the Leader, the experts shall take steps within the shortest possible time for the appointment of the new Leader. ... Whenever the Leader becomes temporarily unable to perform the duties of leadership owing to his illness or any other incident, then during this period, the council mentioned in this Article shall assume his duties.<ref name="Constitute-111">{{cite web |title=Iran (Islamic Republic of)'s Constitution of 1979 with Amendments through 1989. Article 111 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iran_1989.pdf?lang=en |website=Constitute |access-date=7 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="c">{{cite web |url=http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-8.html |title=Iranian Government Constitution, English Text |publisher=Iran Online |access-date=28 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123063337/http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-8.html |archive-date=23 November 2010}}</ref></blockquote>

To choose the Supreme Leader, the Experts review qualified candidates and consult among themselves. According to the Constitution, the criteria of qualification for the office of the Supreme Leader include "Islamic scholarship, justice, piety, right political and social perspicacity, prudence, courage, administrative facilities and adequate capability for leadership."<ref name="c" /> The jurist deemed as the most well-versed in Islamic regulations, in [[fiqh]], or in political and social issues, most generally popular, or of other special prominence is chosen as Supreme Leader. Otherwise, in the absence of such a candidate, the Experts elect and declare one of their own as Supreme Leader.<ref name="c" />

Article 107 of the constitution states:
<blockquote>the task of appointing the Leader shall be vested with the experts elected by the people. The experts will review and consult among themselves concerning all the fuqaha' possessing the qualifications specified in 
Articles 5 and 109. In the event they find one of them better versed in Islamic regulations, the subjects of the fiqh, or in political and social issues, or possessing general popularity or special prominence for any of the qualifications mentioned in Article 109, they shall elect him as the Leader. Otherwise, in the absence of such a superiority, they shall elect and declare one of them as the Leader. The Leader thus elected by the Assembly of Experts shall assume all the powers of the wilayat al-amr and all the responsibilities arising therefrom.<ref name="Constitute-107">{{cite web |title=Iran (Islamic Republic of)'s Constitution of 1979 with Amendments through 1989. Article 107 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iran_1989.pdf?lang=en |website=Constitute |access-date=7 September 2022}}</ref></blockquote>

Article 99 of the constitution declares "The Guardian Council has the responsibility of supervising the elections of the Assembly of Experts for Leadership". It also had the responsibility for setting up the first Assembly. The constitution does not specify requirements for candidacy for the Assembly of Experts, leaving the Assembly itself to put limits on who may run for membership. Article 108 states: 
<blockquote>The law setting out the number and qualifications of the experts [mentioned in the preceding article], the mode of their election, and the code of procedure regulating the sessions during the first term must be drawn up by the fuqaha' on the first Guardian Council, passed by a majority of votes and then finally approved by the Leader of the Revolution. The power to make any subsequent change or a review of this law, or approval of all the provisions concerning the duties of the experts is vested in themselves.<ref name="c" /> </blockquote>

The [[1989 Iranian constitutional referendum]] removed the requirement for the leader to be a [[marja']]. [[Ali Khamenei]] was not a marja' at that time.