Ayatollah Taleghani dies

Debates focused on whether the assembly reflected the full diversity of the revolutionary coalition.

Seventy-three elected members began detailed deliberation on the constitution.

Clerical members advanced the principle that a qualified jurist should guide and supervise the republic.

Members sought different ways to combine elections, representative institutions and religious leadership.

The emerging constitution addressed public ownership, protection of the oppressed and rejection of foreign domination.

Large crowds honored a leader respected across religious, nationalist and left currents of the revolution.

Taleghani had emphasized shura, social justice and dialogue among competing political tendencies.

The leadership change strengthened the influence of the Islamic Republican Party in state-building.

The completed text differed substantially from the provisional government's earlier proposal.

The leading jurist received extensive supervisory authority as guardian of the revolution's Islamic direction.