The head of the Baha'i administrative structure is the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith. Composed of nine individuals, the Universal House of Justice is elected every five years by the combined membership of all the world's National Spiritual Assemblies.

The process of election is much the same as for Local and National Spiritual Assemblies: there are no nominations, campaigning is forbidden, and the nine individuals who receive the most votes are elected. As with local and national elections, voters are expected to consider only individuals of recognized ability and spiritual capacity.

First Members of the Universal House of Justice, 1963The entire election process is a powerful expression of democratic ideals. Although it is an international institution, the Universal House of Justice is nevertheless surprisingly close to the grassroots. The final election of the Universal House of Justice is just three steps away from the local level: every adult Bahá'í is eligible to participate in the election of a "district" delegate; district delegates in turn elect the members of their respective National Spiritual Assemblies; and the members of all National Spiritual Assemblies around the world in turn elect the Universal House of Justice. The first election was held in 1963.

Baha'u'llah Himself established the institution of the Universal House of Justice, and it occupies a unique position in the Baha'i administrative order. Baha'is understand that its decision making is unerringly guided by God.

The teachings of Baha'u'llah are the foundation of Baha'i belief and practice. However, the Universal House of Justice has the authority both to legislate on all matters which Baha'u'llah Himself did not explicitly address and also to repeal or change its own legislation as conditions change. This provides Bahá'í law with an element of flexibility. If, for example, the development of some future technology poses a moral question which was unknown at the time of Baha'u'llah, the Universal House of Justice would determine how to address that question. In this way, Baha'is believe, the Baha'i Faith will continue to be guided by God until such time as the next Manifestation of God appears - an event which Baha'u'llah said will not occur before the passing of at least a thousand years.

Like members of National and Local Assemblies, members of the Universal House of Justice have no power or authority on their own. It is the institution of the Universal House of Justice, not its individual members, that is considered to be divinely inspired.