League Bloodline & Principles

League Bloodline & Principles

Bloodline of the League: Program, Member Agreement and Action

Local Program Making

League Program consists of a limited number of governmental issues chosen by the membership for study and action. Proposed programs are based on several criteria: member interest, available member power, money, timeliness, effectiveness of League study, and contribution to a solution.

Procedure for Selecting Local Programs

  • Meetings are held for consideration of local programs and/or members are solicited for their suggestions for local programs.
  • The results are presented to the local board, which recommends one or more proposed programs for study.
  • Program items are presented and voted on at local convention.

Types of Member Agreement 

Consensus

Agreement among a substantial number of members, representative of the membership as a whole, reached after study and group discussions.

Concurrence

A method reaching consensus by accepting a position of:

    • another local league
    • a League program committee
    • the LWV-Texas or
    • LWV-US

Action

Action is supporting or opposing legislation or method of operation of any governing body (on the local level, city council, school board, city or school boards and commissions). League action is ALWAYS the outgrowth of previous study and agreement. Official League action is approved in advance by the board.

Individual members may act on League positions only as individuals. Members are encouraged to take action. Only the League President or someone designated by the president or board may take action in the name of the League.

Action on League positions includes:

  • Lobbying on the appropriate government level
  • Presenting the League's views at public hearings
  • Writing letters to or interviewing public officials
  • Campaigning for public support
  • Forming or joining group coalitions

Our League Principles

The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States.

The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizens' right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible.

The League of Women Voters believes that citizens should be protected in their right to vote; that all persons should have access to free public education, which provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic, or administrative discrimination.

The League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.

The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be:

  • responsive to the will of the people;
  • maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation;
  • promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest;
  • share in the solution of economic and social problems which affect the general welfare;
  • promote a stable and expanding economy
  • adopt domestic policies which facilitate the solution of international problems.

The League of Women Voters believes that cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems, and that the development of international organizations and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.