on of the local Assembly, or whether it
should fall under its own province and be regarded as a matter
which ought to receive its special attention....

... it is bounden duty, in the interest of the Cause we all love
and serve, of the members of the incoming National Assembly, once
elected by the delegates at Convention time, to seek and have the
utmost regard, individually as well as collectively, for the
advice, the considered opinion and the true sentiments of the
assembled delegates. Banishing every vestige of secrecy, of undue
reticence, of dictatorial aloofness, from their midst, they should
radiantly and abundantly unfold to the eyes of the delegates, by
whom they are elected, their plans, their hopes, and their cares.
They should familiarize the delegates with the various matters
that will have to be considered in the current year, and calmly
and conscientiously study and weigh the opinions and judgments of
the delegates. The newly elected National Assembly, during the few
days when the Convention is in session and after the dispersal of
the delegates, should seek ways and means to cultivate
understanding, facilitate and maintain the exchange of views,
deepen confidence, and vindicate by every tangible evidence their
one desire to serve and advance the common weal....

The National Spiritual Assembly, however, in view of the
unavoidable limitations imposed upon the convening of frequent and
long-standing sessions of the Convention, will have to retain in
its hands the final decision on all matters that affect the
interests of the Cause ... such as the right to decide whether any
local Assembly is functioning in accordance with the principles
laid down for the conduct and the advancement of the Cause....

Concerning the matter of drawing up the voting list to be used at the
annual local Baha'i elections, the responsibility for this is placed upon
each local Spiritual Assembly, and as a guidance in the matter the
Guardian has written the following:

... to state very briefly and as adequately as present
circumstances permit the principal factors that must be taken into
consideration before deciding whether a person may be regarded as
a true believer or not. Full recognition of the station of the
Forerunner, the Author, and the True Exemplar of the Baha'i Cause,
as set for