League History

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Brief History of the League

The league of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization of women
and men that was founded in 1920 to "finish the fight" after women won the
right to vote. The League of Women Voters is the only citizen advocacy
organization working at the local, state and federal levels to make your voice
heard and to keep you informed. The League lobbies on issues members have
studied and agreed upon concerning all levels of government.

Throughout our history, we have led grassroots movements for universal voter
registration and campaign integrity, the right to privacy in reproductive choice,
civil rights, clean air and water, safe and affordable housing and child care.
Early in our history, the League was committed to establishing child labor laws
and equal pay for women. We were an advocate for peace-building through
the United Nations and other international organizations in the 1940s. The
League fought against discrimination in education, employment and housing in
the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1970s and 1980s, the League supported action
to clean up the environment, to stop the arms race, and to promote equality of
opportunity. Within this past decade, we led the successful effort to eliminate
remaining obstacles to voter registration in the United States.

Actions and Advocacy

The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue, or advocate for a cause, when there is a "position to refer to that supports the issue or speaks to the cause".

"Positions" result from a process of thorough study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details, both positive and negative. 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. Every question on which consensus is reached is kept. The others are eliminated.

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 adddressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy can not be taken.