National Convention
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The National Convention is the annual meeting in each country at which the delegates elected from each part of the country at the Unit Conventions consult upon the situation of the community in their country, and at which they elect the National Spiritual Assembly. The number of delegates there should be at the national convention is fixed by the Universal House of Justice, and is often fixed at a number of some symbolic significance to Bahá'ís, e.g. 9, 19, 95, and according to the size of the Bahá'í population. This meeting usually takes place during the Ridván period, but may be some weeks later in years when the Universal House of Justice is being elected.
The convention is called by the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly. Consequently, the members of the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly have an automatic right to speak at the convention, whether elected as delegates or not. (This right to speak does not extend to a right to vote during the consultation at the Convention.) Those who have been elected as delegates, and confirmed by the National Spiritual Assembly (N.S.A.) as having been properly elected according to Bahá'í procedure, also have the right to speak, plus anyone specifically invited by the N.S.A. This may include any continental Counsellors present, or may upon occasion include specific persons with specific information (youth representatives, financial managers, etc).
During the course of the convention, a time is set aside for the election of a new National Spiritual Assembly for the forthcoming year. Obviously, from the time at which the results are announced, the nine people elected each have an automatic right to speak at the convention, irrespective of their status as delegates or non-delegates. The election takes place in a spiritual atmosphere, and upon completion of the ballot papers, the names of the delegates are called and the votes offered to the tellers, one at a time. Election is by plurality vote, i.e. each delegate votes for nine people.
In addition to the Convention having the function of election of the National Spiritual Assembly, it serves as an occasion for Bahá'ís from throughout the country to raise and consult upon matters which concern or are of interest to them. Suggestions may be put to the N.S.A. for their consideration, but the degree of formality in which the Convention is conducted will vary, due to cultural factors and factors relating to the growth and development of the Faith in that country.
A compilation exists on this subject, prepared on behalf of the Universal House of Justice.
