Universal House of Justice

The Universal House of Justice is the name used by Bahá'u'lláh for an elected institution of the Bahá'í Faith, outlined in greater detail by Abdul-Baha, and further elucidated upon by Shoghi Effendi.

The House is the supreme institution of the Bahá'í Faith. From the world headquarters of the Faith in Haifa Israel, the nine-member institution administers the affairs of the Bahá'í community. This body is elected every five years during a convention of the members of the various National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá'ís from over 230 nations. The most recent elections were in the spring of 2003. Among other things, the House is responsible for administering the Baha'i International Fund, and the Huqu'u'llah (The right of God).

The House is elected without nominations or campaigning. All adult male members of the Bahá'í Faith are elegible for election to the House.

The House has created several appointed institutions to support it's work around the world. Among these are the Boards of Continetal Councilors, the International Teaching Institute, it administers the Baha'i Archives and is responsible for the development, and maintenance of the Baha'i sacred sites in the Holy Land.

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Another much smaller group, the Orthodox Bahá'í Faith, also calls their supreme institution the House of Justice, and believes that when it is elected with a living Guardian at its Head, it will be without error. They are regarded as heretical by the majority of Baha'is.

This article is related to: The Bahá'í Faith; Central Figures: The Báb Bahá'u'llah Abdu'l-Bahá Shoghi Effendi Institutions: Universal House of Justice, Bahai house of worship Individuals: Táhirih, List of Bahá'ís Topics: Kitab-i-Iqan, Kitab-i-Aqdas, Qiblih, Bahá'í calendar, Covenant-Breaker