Baháʼí administration
[1] Some features set apart the Baháʼí administration from similar systems of governance: elected representatives should follow their conscience, rather than being responsible to the views of electors; political campaigning, nominations and parties are prohibited; and structure and authority of institutions to lead Baháʼís flowed directly from the religion's founder, Baháʼu'lláh.
The ultimate aim of consultation is the collective search for truth and investigation of reality in a manner that maintains unity and concord.
[5] ʻAbdu'l-Bahá encouraged elected members to "take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may arise.
"[6] Baháʼís are encouraged to express their views in consultation frankly and calmly, remaining detached from their own opinions and listening to the viewpoints of others without taking offence.
Governing bodies consisting of nine members are elected annually at both local and national levels, and every five years members of all National Spiritual Assemblies gather to elect the Universal House of Justice, an international governing body which possesses the authority to supplement and apply the laws of Baháʼu'lláh.
"[13] In order to determine who to vote for, Baháʼís are encouraged to become thoroughly acquainted with one another, to exchange views, and to freely discuss the requirements and qualifications for service on institutions; however, this should be done without even the slightest reference to specific individuals.
[13] Shoghi Effendi sternly deprecated partisan politics and certain other practices current in western democracies, such as campaigning and nomination.
These boundaries are subject to the discretion of the Universal House of Justice, and can obviously change, Canada and the USA now having their own individual National Assemblies.
The Local Assemblies govern Baháʼí community life at the local level, and administer the affairs of the entire community, including coordinating the Nineteen Day Feast, holy day observances, funeral services, marriage counselling and many other tasks, though these are generally done through committee appointment.
The functions of this branch were originally carried out by the Hands of the Cause of God appointed by Baháʼu'lláh, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi.
There are typically two Boards in a single geographical region, one responsible for protection, and one for propagation of the community, though these functions often overlap.
These assistants often meet with Local Spiritual Assemblies, speak at events, and are sought for advice by individual community members.
Though Baháʼu'lláh intimated, earlier, many of the policies that would form the basis of the Baháʼí administrative system, his Kitáb-i-Aqdas provides the most solid initial glimpse of this system: This House of Justice is described as being in concert with Baha'u'llah and the Aghsán, his descendants, but with the responsibility for creating and abrogating laws not explicitly revealed in the sacred scripture.
Over time, these concepts were clarified initially in Baháʼu'lláh's writings, and then in those of his eldest son and successor, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá.
During ʻAbdu'l-Bahá's life, he oversaw and encouraged the establishment of many elected local councils, calling them "Spiritual Assemblies".
In this document, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá also: Under Shoghi Effendi, the Baháʼí Faith underwent its most dramatic shift in shape and process.
While evolving from the skeletal structure established by Baháʼu'lláh and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi instituted large-scale campaigns of administrative consolidation, established practices and procedures for Baháʼí administrative bodies, appointed more Hands of the Cause, secured the legal position of the Baháʼí Community both in Haifa, but also, working with newly formed National Spiritual Assemblies, with many national governments.
In 1997, the Universal House of Justice established regional Baha'i councils in very large countries (e.g. United States, Canada, India) to provide an intermediary form of administration between the local and national Spiritual Assemblies.
