We are truly a grassroots organization...
Developing League 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.
Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being 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.
Issues are studied at the local level with consensus outcome feeding into the State study. The results of the State study are a combination of the local studies results and go forward to the National level as appropriate. With this process, local leagues do play a part in determing what issues become nationally supported.
League Positions Supported
We support and advocate for positions established by the National, State, and local Leagues.
- National positions are detailed on the national website and can be viewed at National Issues.
- Local issues specific to the Irving area that have been studied with a final concensus position can be viewed at Local Issues.
Issues studied locally include:
Administration of Justice, Child Care, City Public Library, Domestic Violence, Homeless Teens, Irving Independent School District, Juvenile Justice, Kids at Risk, Mass Transit, Mental Health, Teenage Pregnancy, Urban Planning, Waste Management, Youth Substance Abuse