What are Positions and Program?

Positions

The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is an existing League position that supports the issue or speaks to the cause. Local, state, and national positions result from a process of study, and positions are developed only when members reach consensus.

Positions result from a process of study. Local, state, and the national League can undertake studies. Local Leagues participate in both state and national studies. The process of study is part of what makes the League a true grassroots organization.

Studies are thorough in the pursuit of facts and details and offer a significant learning opportunity. Each study is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details and s. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of the issue occurs, including the pros and cons of each situation. Before the results of the study are presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then addressed by the membership. Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus.

It is the consensus statement -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Firm action or advocacy can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy cannot be taken.

Learn more about studies at our Studies page.

Program

In League, Program can also be thought of as the League's issues for emphasis. It means the issues that we choose for concerted study, education, and action at local, state and national levels. Program can include all three components -- study, education, and action. 

The Program Planning process is part of what makes the League a grassroots organization; each League member has the opportunity to influence the selection of issues where the local, state, and national League will focus time, talent and money.

Every two years, members of local Leagues engage in national and state Program Planning. Based on the results of this process, the national and state boards of directors make recommendations to the biennial convention delegates about the program to be adopted for the coming two year period. In addition, yearly legislation priorities are set.

Locally, the South Bend Area League also engages in a Program Planning process each year. With that process, we review and update our local program, with input from our local members. Our League also works to support yearly legislative priorities identified by the state and national Leagues.

In addition to the adopted issues for emphasis, or Program,Leagues may choose to take action on additional issues that arise, provided there is a position on the issue. For example, our local League might choose to take action on a proposed local issue.

2016-2018 National and State Program

Please visit League of Women Voters of the United States and League of Women Voters of Indiana to learn more about  the issues for emphasis of the national and state organizations.

2018-2019 South Bend Area Program

The Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area provide that the program shall consist of (a) action to protect the right to vote of every citizen, and (b) those local government issues chosen for concerted study and action. The program is adopted each fiscal year at the Annual Business Meeting held in April, May, or June.

For 2018-2019, the LWV South Bend Area Board of Directors adopted a program that retains all current LWV South Bend Area positions. No local studies were proposed. The Board also recommended, and the membership approved, a local program focus on issues and principles related to Making Democracy Work, in congruence with the current programs of LWV United States and LWV Indiana, including:

• Redistricting Reform
• Voting Rights & Voter Protection
• Voter/Civic Education
• “Good Government

National and State Positions

Please visit the League of Women Voters of the United States, which updates its publication Impact on Issues with current positions, as well information on action and history related to the position. Please visit League of Women Voters of Indiana to find Indiana state positions.

South Bend Area Positions

The following positions have been adopted by the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area. 

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION. Alternative education must meet basic and comprehensive goals common to the entire school system, must be accessible to all who choose the alternative, must be effective in meeting the particular needs of the students it serves and must be financially feasible.

LOCAL REDISTRICTING. Local redistricting calls for a bipartisan citizen's committee to assist in the redistricting process and recommends that neighborhood boundaries be taken into consideration whenever possible.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. The League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area supports public transportation as essential for the South Bend area.

SOLID WASTE.  The League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area studies alternative methods of solid waste disposal in St. Joseph County and supports policies to reduce the amount of solid waste generated and to reduce the dependency on landfills for the disposal of solid waste.

HOUSING. The League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area supports the right of every person, regardless of income, race, religion, national origin, marital status, age or other circumstances, to safe, sanitary and affordable housing.••