“a tie for the ninth member of a National Spiritual Assembly” and “resignation of one of the members of the newly elected National Assembly”: - at National Convention - 13 June 1976

In the case of a tie for the ninth member of a National Spiritual Assembly, a vote can be held immediately at the Convention among the delegates present, to break the tie. However, if a vacancy is declared at the Convention because a resignation of one of the members of the newly elected National Assembly is accepted, a By-election must be called, i.e. all delegates must be given an opportunity to vote for someone to fill the vacancy. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated June 13, 1976, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; compilations, ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“all members of the Spiritual Assembly are equal and should have access to the files and minutes of the Assembly” - 8 June 1976

In reply to your letter of May 13th, 1976, the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that all members of the Spiritual Assembly are equal and should have access to the files and minutes of the Assembly of which they are members. It is, however, within the discretion of any Spiritual Assembly to so organize its files and records that certain items could be listed as "confidential" and access to those so classified could only be had by a specific decision of the Assembly itself. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated June 8, 1976; compilation: ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities’, prepared by NSA of USA, 1998 edition; and compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“an unforseen calamity”: “it would be fruitless to attempt to foresee the time or the nature of a calamity which Bahá'u'lláh Himself said was 'unforseen'” - 2 June 1976

The House of Justice points out that Bahá'u'lláh in no uncertain terms has said 'O ye peoples of the world! Know, verily, that an unforseen calamity followeth you, and grievous retribution awaiteth you. Think not that which ye have committed hath been effaced in My sight.' Therefore it considers that it would be fruitless to attempt to foresee the time or the nature of a calamity which Bahá'u'lláh Himself said was 'unforseen'. No doubt the remarkable progress being made in scientific endeavour holds true in the study by experts of geological upheavals. But we cannot be certain that predictions of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or tidal waves caused by such phenomena can be identified as the cataclysmic events to which Bahá'u'lláh refers.

In letters to other believers who have asked questions similar to yours, the House of Justice has emphasized that the friends should not waste their time and energies in fruitless speculations on this question. Rather, they should concentrate every ounce of energy on the winning of the goals of the Five Year Plan, which they have clearly before them, confident in the knowledge that whatever may happen in the world, however calamitous it may outwardly appear, will promote God's unalterable purpose for the unification of mankind. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, June 2, 1976; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

Prohibition against the use of marijuana - 3 May 1976

In reply to your letter of March 23, 1976, the Universal House of Justice instructs us to say that the word "marijuana" does not appear as such in our Sacred Scriptures. However, marijuana contains the same narcotic as hashish (hemp) and the same prohibition applies to its use as applies to the use of hashish. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, dated May 3, 1976, to an individual believer; compilation: ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities’, prepared by NSA of USA, 1998 edition)