Universal House of Justice Quiz
Updated: Aug 19, 2021
19 questions on the Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the Baha'i Faith. 19 things you should know about the Universal House of Justice.
1. How many people are in the Universal House of Justice?
Only Nine Men are allowed to be a part of the Universal House of Justice at a time.
2. When were the first members of the Universal House of Justice elected?
They were first elected in 1963.
3. How long are they a member before they get re-elected?
They are a member for 5 years and then there’s another election for the next group.
4. What are a few of the things the Universal House of Justice has done?
They helped to create more Local Spiritual Assemblies, translate Baha’i writings, completing Baha’i Houses of Worship, holding international conferences, creating educational systems to help enhance literacy, social and economic development in the Baha’i faith, and bringing the persecution of Baha’is in Iran to the news so more people know about it.
5. True or False: If a matter comes up in the Baha’i faith and there is nothing on it in the writings, the Universal House of Justice has the ability to tell people what to do.
True! This rarely ever happens though, and the Universal House of Justice tries to make sure this doesn’t happen.
6. Where do the members of the Universal House of Justice live when they are serving as a member?
They live in Haifa, Israel as the Universal House of Justice building is on Mount Carmel, in Haifa.
7. How are the Universal House of Justice members elected?
They are elected in a three-stage election for Baha’is over the age of 21. The local community votes for their Local Spiritual Assembly, who then vote for the National Spiritual Assembly, who then vote for the Universal House of Justice.
8. Who were the first 9 members of the Universal House of Justice?
Luftu’llah Hakim, Amoz Gibson, Charles Wolcott, David Hofman, Borrah Kavelin, Hugh Chance, Hushmand Fatheazam, Ali Nakhjavani, and Ian Semple were the first 9 members of the Universal House of Justice.
9. Three members of the Universal House of Justice have passed away whilst in office. Who are these three members. (Hint: Think about the first Universal House of Justice members)
Amoz Gibson, Charles Wolcott, and Adib Taherzadeh all died whilst in office.
10. In the 1963 election, how many of the first members had been from the International Baha’i Council?
Five of the members were from the International Baha’i Council
11. How many of the Universal House of Justice members from the 1963 election were from the United States, how many from Britian, and how many from India?
From the 1963 election, there were two from the U.S., one from Britian and one from India.
12. Do we know why we only have male Universal House of Justice members?
No, we don’t know why, but in the writings said we will understand it in the future.
13. In what year did the Universal House of Justice publish the English translation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas?
The Universal House of Justice published it in 1992.
14. How do the Universal House of Justice give out advice and how do they send out messages?
The Universal House of Justice sends out messages and gives advice through letters, which happens to be what Shoghi Effendi tended to do as well.
15. What are some of the responsibilities of the Universal House of Justice?
-Helping to translate and publish Baha’i writings
-Helping to protect Baha’is from persecutions and harm
-Helping to give advice and guidance in difficult times
-To help and to encourage Baha’is to share the Baha’i faith
-Take care of and distribute Baha’i funds
-To take care of any covenant-breakers, or people causing problems from within the Baha’i Faith.
16. When was the constitution of the Universal House of Justice completed and signed?
It was completed and signed the document in 1972.
17. (As of 2020) How many by-elections have there been and when were they?
There have been 5, in 1982, 1987, 2000, 2005, and 2010.
18. True or False: Whenever there is an election for all of the Universal House of Justice members, the year always ends in a 3 or in an 8.
True!
19. When was the Universal House of Justice building in Mount Carmel completed?
The Universal House of Justice building was completed in 1983.
