also with the first centenary anniversary of the public declaration of Baháʼu'lláh in the Garden of Ridván in April 1863. Since then the Universal House of Justice has acted as the head of the religion – individual members have no authority, only as an assembly do they have authority. In 1972 it published its constitution. Election process The Universal House of Justice is elected through secret ballot and plurality vote in a three-stage election by adult Baháʼís throughout the world. The House of Justice is elected without nominations or campaigning and all adult male members of the Baháʼí Faith are eligible for election to the House. The body is elected every five years during a convention of the members of the various National or Regional Spiritual Assemblies (NSAs) across the world. Each member of the various NSAs, who were themselves elected by the Baháʼís of their country, votes for nine adult male Baháʼís. Absentee ballots are mailed or carried by delegates. The nine people who have the most votes are elected onto the Universal House of Justice. In 2013, in addition to those present in Haifa, approximately 400 absentee ballots were cast, taking the total number of ballots cast to over 1500. This election marked the 50th anniversary of the first election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963. The most recent full election was on 29 April 2018. Responsibilities The Universal House of Justice today guides the growth and development of the global Baháʼí community. The general functions of the Universal House of Justice, as stated by Baháʼu'lláh, include to promulgate the cause of God, to preserve the law, to administer social affairs, to educate the people's souls, to guarantee the education of children, to make the entire world prosperous (eliminate extremes of wealth and poverty), and to care for the elderly and the ill who are in poverty. According to the constitution of the Universal House of Justice, some of its powers and duties include: Promoting the spiritual qualities that characterize Baháʼí life individually and collectively Preserving, translating and publishing Baháʼí sacred texts Defending and protecting the global Baháʼí community from repression and persecution Preserving and developing the world spiritual and administrative centre of the Baháʼí Faith Encouraging the growth and maturation of the Baháʼí community and administration Safeguarding individual personal rights, freedoms and initiatives Applying Baháʼí principles and laws Developing, abrogating and changing laws that are