Lame Duck Study
Delegates at the 2019 League of Women Voters Michigan (LWVMI) annual convention voted to undertake a study concerning the "Structure and Process of the Michigan Legislature limited to exploring the ramifications on democracy, if any, posed by lame duck sessions and developing guidelines, if warranted, regarding the type of bills and how such bills should be handled in a lame duck session."
A study group comprised of members from around the state took an in-depth look at Michigan lame duck sessions. The group provided their findings and wrote questions as a basis for the local leagues to develop consensus upon which an LWVMI position can be created.
Consensus, as defined by LWV, is the method by which agreement or non-agreement is reached on a study or issue. Consensus is reached through group discussion at which members come to an overall “sense of the group” as expressed through the exchange of ideas and opinions. It is from this agreement that the League formulates a position statement for action. Once a “sense of the group” has been reached, the study group will draw up a position statement for approval by the appropriate Board. This statement will then be accepted or rejected by delegates at the next biennial convention or annual meeting.
LWVMI asked for responses from each of the local leagues to enable the development of a recommendation on whether and how to move forward on a policy position regarding lame duck sessions.
The LWVOA schedule for reviewing the study results and developing responses is listed here.
| January 15 | distribute study materials to all LWVOA members for review |
| February 9 @ 7pm | Zoom meeting to develop LWVOA responses to the study |
| March 9 @ 7pm | If needed, 2nd Zoom meeting to develop LWVOA responses to the study |
| March 22 | LWVOA Board Meeting to review and approve responses to send to the Michigan League |
| March 31 | send LWVOA responses to Michigan League |
Our response to LWVMI was on the nine Consensus Questions in the Lame Duck Study Packet.
The state study group prepared a thorough packet of information that was the basis for our conversation. Participants read this information before the consensus question discussion meetings.
(1) 
Slides that provide an overview of the study and the consensus questions.
(2) A study packet. The first part of the study packet contains an overview of the study, background on lame duck sessions, discussion questions, and the consensus questions, each with background on the question topic (e.g., record roll call votes). The appendices in the study packet contain more detailed background material on lame duck sessions. The table of contents for the study packet provides a guide.
We discussed and developed responses to the consensus questions at the February 9 meeting.
Thank you!
The League of Women Voters Oakland Area Board
How Does The League Select Issues for Emphasis?
In League, Program means the issues that we choose for concerted study, education and action at local, state and national levels. Program can include both 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 Program Planning. Based on the results of this, the Board of Directors makes recommendations to the biennial convention delegates about the program to be adopted for the coming two year period.
