Studies

Studies

The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue only when we have a position addressing it. If the members have not studied and come to consensus on it, the League has no position and therefore cannot take action. Studies (whether national, state, or local) are a defined process lasting one to three years, during which we undertake thorough pursuit of facts and details, both positive and negative, and come to consensus about policy.

What Studies Are There?

LWV Santa Monica Homelessness Update Study 2018

Our Homelessness Update study is coming to a close in July 2018. Please join us for our consensus meeting on Saturday, July 14th. Please see the flyer for the consensus meeting PDF icon here and the study guide PDF icon here.

LWV Santa Monica Traffic Study 2003*

Last Update 2006
The League of Women Voters conducts studies at all levels which result in position statements. It is these positions that we use to consider when speaking to issues that come before the League.PDF icon Traffic Study

LWV Santa Monica Airport Study 2005

The League of Women Voters conducts studies at all levels which result in position statements. It is these positions that we use to consider when speaking to issues that come before the League.SMO Study

LWV Santa Monica Voting Systems Study 2001

An analysis of alternative systems of voting used around the world including some places in the United States at various governmental levels. A fairly comprehensive bibliography is included.Voting Systems Study

LWV Los Angeles County Studies

There are currently no new studies at the county level.

League of Women Voters of California Studies

There are currently no new studies at the state level. Program planning for new studies will begin in January.

League of Women Voters National Studies

Studies from across the nation are in our League of Women Voters Education Fund Clearinghouse for studies.

What Is The Study Process?

  1. Study Committee members fashion consensus questions that are then asked of the membership as part of a study kit. Kits often include articles, books, data in the form of charts and graphs, videos, suggested speakers, discussion questions, and other resources. Members use the study kit internally and often with their community to better understand the issue.
  2. Consensus is the overall decision-making process by which substantial agreement among members is reached on an issue. Often this happens over the course of several meetings, but may include surveys and other methods. If the members reach consensus, the board forms recommended positions based on that consensus. Those recommendations are submitted to the Study Committee.
  3. The Study Committee then reviews all the submissions. It works to form a consensus statement - the statement resulting from the consensus questions - that becomes a recommended position.
  4. That recommended position is then reviewed and voted on by our members (usually by delegates at our Convention). The proposal may be approved, amended, or be rejected at that time.
  5. If a position is adopted, firm action can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action can not be taken on that issue.

Read the national Guidelines for LWVUS Studies.

Our Positions

We have extensive resources about studies, consensus, positions, and taking action for members on our members only website.