The Universal House of Justice

The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith. Ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), it occupies a central place in the Administrative Order He established for the Bahá’í community.

The Universal House of Justice consists of nine members, elected every five years by the members of National Spiritual Assemblies worldwide. It is entrusted to exert a positive influence on the welfare of humankind, promote education, peace and global prosperity, and safeguard human honour and the position of religion.

Bahá’u’lláh also conferred upon the Universal House of Justice the authority to legislate on matters not explicitly addressed in the Bahá’í sacred texts and to apply His teachings to the needs of an ever-evolving society.

Since its first election in 1963, the Universal House of Justice has guided the worldwide Bahá’í community in its efforts to contribute to the spiritual and material advancement of society. Through its guidance, the Bahá’í community maintains unity of thought and action as it seeks to translate Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of world peace into reality.