Baháʼí administration

The Baháʼí administration is a system of elected and appointed institutions to govern the affairs of the Baháʼí community. Its supreme body is the Universal House of Justice, elected every five years. 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 Baháʼí administration has four charter documents, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Tablets of the Divine Plan, the Tablet of Carmel and the Will and Testament of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. A central and distinct aspect of the administration of the Baháʼí Faith is the approach to decision-making through consultation. The ultimate aim of consultation is the collective search for truth and investigation of reality in a manner that maintains unity and concord. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá encouraged elected members to "take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may arise." 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. After thorough consultation on a topic, if a decision is not unanimous, the decision can be made by a majority vote. The Baháʼí administration includes both elected and appointed institutions. 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. Appointed institutions in the Baháʼí administrative order include the International Teaching Centre, Continental Boards of Counsellors, and Auxiliary Board members.