Since its establishment in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has operated within a distinctive political framework that combines elected institutions with the divine principle of wilayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist). At its core lies divine sovereignty, embodied in the Supreme Leader, who holds ultimate authority in interpreting Islamic principles for governance. Alongside this, executive and legislative bodies are chosen through competitive elections, enabling forms of popular participation. This dual structure generates constant tension over the balance between religious authority and democratic governance, with the Guardian Council’s vetting of candidates sharply limiting representation. The chapter situates these dilemmas within a longer history, tracing arguments on popular sovereignty and clerical authority back to the Constitutional Revolution of 1905–1911. It then explores three contemporary strands—principlism, reformism, and secular modernity—and their contrasting readings of Islamic concepts such as ijma (consensus) and shura (consultation). Taken together, these debates highlight how democracy and divinity are jointly invoked to define legitimacy and representation in Iran today.