cide whether any matter lies within its own jurisdiction or within the jurisdiction of any local Spiritual Assembly. It shall in such cases as it considers suitable and necessary, entertain appeals from the decisions of local Spiritual Assemblies and shall have the right of final decision in all cases where the qualification of an individual or group for continued voting rights and membership in the Bahá’í body is in question. It shall furthermore represent the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada in all their co-operative and spiritual activities with the Bahá’ís of other lands, and shall constitute the sole electoral body of the United States and Canada in the formation of the Universal House of Justice provided for in the Sacred Writings of the Bahá’í Cause. Above all, the National Spiritual Assembly shall ever seek to attain that station of unity in devotion to the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh which will attract the confirmations of the Holy Spirit and enable the Assembly to serve the founding of the Most Great Peace. In all its deliberation and action the National Assembly shall have constantly before it as Divine guide and standard the utterance of Bahá’u’lláh:
“It behooveth them (i.e., Spiritual As- semblies) to be the trusted ones of the Merciful among men and to consider themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. It is incumbent upon them to take counsel together and to have regard for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests, and to choose that which is meet and seemly.”
Article II
The Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, for whose benefit this Trust has been established, shall consist of all persons resident in the United States and Canada who are recognized by the National Spiritual Assembly as having fulfilled the requirements of voting membership in a local Baha'i community. To become a voting member of a Bahá’í community a person shall—
a.Be a resident of the locality defined by the area of jurisdiction of the local Spiritual Assembly, as provided by Article VII, Section 12, of this instrument.
b.Have attained the age of 21 years.
c. Have established to the satisfaction of the local Spiritual Assembly, subject to the approval of the National Assembly, that he possesses the qualifications of Bahá’í faith and practice, required under the following standard: Full recognition of the station of the Forerunner (the Báb), the Author (Bahá’u’lláh) , and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá the True Exemplar of the Bahá’í Cause: unreserved acceptance of, and submission to, whatsoever has been revealed by their Pen; loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s sacred Will; and close association with the spirit as well as the form of present-day Bahá’í administration throughout the world.
Article III
The National Assembly shall consist of nine members chosen from among the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, who shall be elected by the said Bahá’ís in manner hereinafter provided, and who shall continue in office for the period of one year, or until their successors shall be elected.
Article IV
The officers of the National Spiritual Assembly shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as may be found necessary for the proper conduct of its affairs. The officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the entire membership of the Assembly taken by secret ballot,