Policies /
Impact On Issues 2022 – 2024
Impact on Issues is designed to help League leaders use LWVUS public policy positions effectively at the state and local levels.
Impact on Issues is designed to help League members use LWVUS public policy positions effectively at the national, state, local, and regional levels. The intention is to inspire Leagues to use national positions to act in their own communities.
Impact on Issues has been organized so that “Taking Action” is front and center followed by the League Principles. Then, for quick reference, the LWVUS public policy Positions in Brief summarize the more detailed positions in the sections that follow. For each of the major issue areas, the listing gives the full official statements of positions in bold type. The history sections provide background for each position and trace significant actions and achievements.
Since 1920, the League of Women Voters has been an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that people should play a critical role in democracy. The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 just six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified giving women the right to vote.
Throughout the years, the League has continued its dual purposes of education and advocacy, engaging in studies on representative government, international relations, natural resources, and social policy. Although our history of advocacy goes back to our beginnings, this version of Impact on Issues covers our advocacy efforts beginning in the 1960s.
Impact on Issues is an indispensable resource for League members. A clear understanding of LWVUS positions, how they interrelate, and how they can complement and reinforce state, local, and regional Inter-League Organization (ILO) positions, strengthens the League’s impact on issues at all levels of government.
In applying LWVUS positions to national, state, local, and regional issues, each appropriate League board— depending on the level of action—is responsible for determining whether member understanding, and agreement exists and whether the action makes sense in terms of timing, need, and effectiveness.
Decline on Local News and Its Impact on Democracy
At the 2024 LWVUS Convention, the "Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy" position was adopted by concurrence by delegates in June 2024. This document includes the new position adopted at the 2024 LWVUS Convention.
League members may use this position in their advocacy efforts starting in July 2024. In the 2024 – 2026 Impact on Issues, this position will placed in the Representative Government section. The full 2024 – 2026 Impact on Issues document will be published in the coming months. Click the button below to review the full position:
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LWVUS strives to provide guidance and policy outlooks to state and local Leagues around the country.
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