The Bahá’í Faith is administered by a series of elected bodies at the local, national and international levels. There is no class of ecclesiastics or clergy.

International

The head of the Bahá’í Faith is the Universal House of Justice, an elected body of nine members that has its permanent seat at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. The Universal House of Justice does not have officers. It is elected every five years by the members of the National Spiritual Assemblies (see below).

National

The Bahá’í Faith operates in most countries under an elected body of nine individuals known as a National Spiritual Assembly. Most of these assemblies have their seat in the capital city of their country. They are elected annually through a delegate system representing the Bahá’ís in their country.

Local

A local Spiritual Assembly of nine persons is elected to oversee the affairs of the Bahá’í community in a city or town. These assemblies also advise and assist individuals and administer a number of functions at the community level.

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In addition, the Bahá’í Faith has counselors, appointed to five-year terms by the Universal House of Justice, who serve as advisers in countries and regions around the world. Currently there are 81 such counselors assigned to specific countries or regions, and an additional nine counselors who constitute the membership of the International Teaching Centre at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa.

The term Baha'i International Community is used in several senses, including for offices operating under the Universal House of Justice that deal with external entities such as the news media, the United Nations and other international organizations, and governments. At present, BIC offices include a Secretariat and an Office of Public Information in Haifa, Israel, and United Nations offices in New York and Geneva.

All Bahá’í institutions and activities are supported by the voluntary contributions of registered Bahá'ís. No outside funds are solicited.