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LEAGUE membership is open to all men and women who are American citizens, at least 18 years of age, and ascribe to the purposes of the League of Women Voters.
Origins of the League:
The League was an outgrowth of the women's suffragist movement, and was incorporated in 1919, the year before U.S women obtain the vote. The founding idea was that a nonpartisan organization could provide political education and experience that would contribute to the growth of the citizen and thus assure the success of democracy. It's original intent was to teach women how to be good citizens and how to effectively influence and change their local state and national government with their newly acquired voting power.
What is the purpose of the League of Women Voters?
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The Organization has three purposes.
- to foster education in citizenship
- to promote forums and public discussions of civic reformto support needed legislation.
The League neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for public office. League is organized into two separate functions Education and Advocacy Through our Educational role we provide information about government and about the choices at election time. We collect information on all the candidates and offer this to the voter with no endorsements. We also provide information on citizen initiatives and ballot referenda. Generally we offer citizens the pros and cons on this information and leave the decision to them.
Sometimes The League takes positions on ballot referenda or initiatives. Through our Advocacy role we work for the issues we believe in. Issues like Air Quality, Removal of Hazardous Waste, Affordable Health Care, Campaign finance reform, and Gun Control. These are issues that we have studied before taking a position. Once our organization agrees on a position for an issue we take action. We write letters to our elected officials, we testify before government bodies, we offer community forums,we publish educational materials, we write letters to the newspaper. We pass petitions, we join coalitions.
Principles of the League of Women Voters
- 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 citizen's 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 every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person 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 different agencies and levels of government.
- The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; that government should 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 sound economy and 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 organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.
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