What is a Position? In the League, a “position” is a statement of the League’s point of view on an issue, arrived at through member study and agreement (consensus or concurrence), approved by the appropriate board and used as a basis for League action. The term League “Program” includes the entire process from proposing a topic for study to action on the position reached through that study, as well as including all of the positions that have been adopted by the respective League (local, state, regional or national Leagues).
Positions exist at the national, regional, state, and local League levels. Before initiating any studies towards the development of a new position, carefully review all higher level positions to see if the issue is already covered. LWVUS & LWV-VA positions can be used by any League in Virginia.
How does a League form a position? There are four major steps in developing a position:
- The League selects an issue to be studied at Convention or Council at state or by LLs at annual meetings.
- The League studies the issue in a non-partisan, unbiased and objective manner.
- Members come to an agreement about the issue using either the process of consensus or concurrence.
- Based upon the result of the consensus or concurrence, a position statement is written, adopted by the respective League board, and subsequently approved by the League membership at an annual meeting or convention.
The process for developing positions begins with the selection and adoption of the “program” for the respective level of League (local, state or national). Ideas for new study issues start at the “grassroots” level, reflecting a particular interest of an individual member, unit or League. Some evolve from a community concern. Members may express preferences on already existing positions and recommend new study items or request an existing position be updated; the recommendations are compiled by the local League board which recommends a “program” (list of study items) to be approved by the League’s annual meeting, or convention. When considering state-wide issues that would be considered in state legislatures or nation-wide issues in the U. S. Congress, the local League board recommends one or two items [top priorities from the list submitted by its members or units] to the state League (LWV-VA) or to the United States League (LWVUS), respectively. Traditionally, the program process for local League items and for state League items occur in alternate years. And the program adopted at the respective annual meetings or conventions is to be carried out over two years (or a biennium), with the state League program being studied by all Leagues in Virginia. This process also applies to items approved at the LWVUS biennial Convention where the adopted program will be studied in all Leagues in the United States.
LWV-VA is also part of a regional League, called an Inter-League Organization or ILO. The regional League of which LWV-VA is a part is the LWV of the National Capital Area, or LWVNCA, which includes Leagues in Maryland, the LWV of the District of Columbia and Leagues in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. The LWV of Maryland and the LWV of Virginia are also members of the LWVNCA. The LWVNCA adopts positions on issues that affect the region, such as transportation, water resources, and environmental quality. The Leagues that comprise LWVNCA give recommendations to the LWVNCA for program items using the same process described above.
When proposing a program item for a study that might lead to a position, the following criteria should be considered: Can the issue be resolved by government action? At what level? Does the League already have a position at any level that could address the specific issue? Can the League’s involvement make a difference? Is there enough enthusiasm for the topic? Do we have the resources (both monetary and human) to work on it?
Once a program item is adopted at the annual meeting or convention, a program committee/team made up of interested members is organized to study the topic selected. For state-wide items, the committee is from around the state; for nation-wide issues, the committee is from all across the U.S.
This group is responsible for pulling together the information and examining all sides of the issue so that the information presented to members will be balanced and objective. The program committee/team devises `questions for discussion’ outlines. Members then answer the questions from which consensus and/or concurrence reports are made. Consensus is agreement among a substantial number, not just a simple majority, of members, reached after study and group discussion. It is the “sense of the meeting.” Consensus does not require unanimity. The presence of disagreement may be noted as a minority opinion, but this does not imply taking a vote. Concurrence is the act of agreeing with or concurring with, a position reached by another League, or study committee, task force, or board. Concurrence is achieved by member agreement with another statement.
The program team/committee, after considering the consensus or concurrence reports, recommends a position statement. The Board then makes any change it thinks appropriate and adopts the position. Once a position is adopted by the respective League board, action may be taken in support of the position. This may include providing information to the public, building public opinion, lobbying, testifying at public hearings, issuing media releases, writing letters to editors and officials, or participating in marches or rallies.
Consensus: What it is and How it is determined. This document explains the Consensus process and how it directs the Actions taken by the League. [Read Here]
Concurence Policy and Procedures Concurrence is the act of agreeing with or concurring with a statement or position. A decision-making technique used by the League for some time, concurrence can work in several ways. Groups of League members or League boards can concur with (1) recommendations of a resource committee, task force, members or unit group; (2) decision statements formulated by League boards; or (3) positions reached by another League or Leagues. (League Basics 9-17.) The revised LWV-VA bylaws, adopted at the 2013 Convention, expanded the process by which concurrence can be used in adopting or amending program. See Article X, Sec 3. This change recognized the fact that the LWV-VA has many support positions which are due for updates, and which can most likely be achieved through a concurrence process. The new bylaws open the process of proposing and adopting updated positions, while retaining the oversight of the board and role of the membership. … [Read the full document Here]
Members can find more information on the process of Program in the LWVUS document LEAGUE BASICS under “Overview of Program” on page 16.
Positions for LWV-VA and Other Leagues
NOTE (from LWV-VA Bylaws Article 10 ):
Sec. 5. Program Action. Local Leagues may act only in conformity with, not contrary to, the positions taken by the LWVUS or the LWV-VA. Action on state governmental matters on the basis of local positions should be undertaken only after consultation with the state board. Members may act in the name of the LWV-VA only when authorized to do so by the state board.
LWV-VA Positions are called Positioned For Action. Click here to read or download the document.
LWVNCA positions cover issues in the Washington, D.C. region which include the D.C. LWV, and Maryland and Virginia Leagues that surround it. See the LWVNCA website or [Read Here.]
LWVUS’ positions are called Impact on Issues and can be found on the website at http://lwv.org/content/impact-issues. LWVUS positions fall into the categories of Representative Government, International Relations, Natural Resources, and Social Policy.
A Glossary of League Terms Known As “League Lingo”
As a League member, you have probably discovered that the League of Women Voters uses a “vocabulary” that has some different meanings of words than may be in the dictionary. To help members, especially new members, be able to follow the “conversation,” LWV-VA has put together a list of terms and definitions used by Leaguers. This glossary is based on a document that LWVUS has created and has been adapted for use in Virginia. Click here to read League Lingo. The document can also be printed out, or downloaded for your use.
Information for League Members About League Terms and Processes
How Does A League Form “Positions”? What Is League Program?
What is a Position? In the League, a “position” is a statement of the League’s point of view on an issue, arrived at through member study and agreement (consensus or concurrence), approved by the appropriate board and used as a basis for League action. The term League “Program” includes the entire process from proposing a topic for study to action on the position reached through that study, as well as including all of the positions that have been adopted by the respective League (local, state, regional or national Leagues).
Positions exist at the national, regional, state, and local League levels. Before initiating any studies towards the development of a new position, carefully review all higher level positions to see if the issue is already covered. LWVUS & LWV-VA positions can be used by any League in Virginia.
How does a League form a position? There are four major steps in developing a position:
- The League selects an issue to be studied at Convention or Council at state or by LLs at annual meetings.
- The League studies the issue in a non-partisan, unbiased and objective manner.
- Members come to an agreement about the issue using either the process of consensus or concurrence.
- Based upon the result of the consensus or concurrence, a position statement is written, adopted by the respective League board, and subsequently approved by the League membership at an annual meeting or convention.
The process for developing positions begins with the selection and adoption of the “program” for the respective level of League (local, state or national). Ideas for new study issues start at the “grassroots” level, reflecting a particular interest of an individual member, unit or League. Some evolve from a community concern. Members may express preferences on already existing positions and recommend new study items or request an existing position be updated; the recommendations are compiled by the local League board which recommends a “program” (list of study items) to be approved by the League’s annual meeting, or convention. When considering state-wide issues that would be considered in state legislatures or nation-wide issues in the U. S. Congress, the local League board recommends one or two items [top priorities from the list submitted by its members or units] to the state League (LWV-VA) or to the United States League (LWVUS), respectively. Traditionally, the program process for local League items and for state League items occur in alternate years. And the program adopted at the respective annual meetings or conventions is to be carried out over two years (or a biennium), with the state League program being studied by all Leagues in Virginia. This process also applies to items approved at the LWVUS biennial Convention where the adopted program will be studied in all Leagues in the United States.
LWV-VA is also part of a regional League, called an Inter-League Organization or ILO. The regional League of which LWV-VA is a part is the LWV of the National Capital Area, or LWVNCA, which includes Leagues in Maryland, the LWV of the District of Columbia and Leagues in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. The LWV of Maryland and the LWV of Virginia are also members of the LWVNCA. The LWVNCA adopts positions on issues that affect the region, such as transportation, water resources, and environmental quality. The Leagues that comprise LWVNCA give recommendations to the LWVNCA for program items using the same process described above.
When proposing a program item for a study that might lead to a position, the following criteria should be considered: Can the issue be resolved by government action? At what level? Does the League already have a position at any level that could address the specific issue? Can the League’s involvement make a difference? Is there enough enthusiasm for the topic? Do we have the resources (both monetary and human)to work on it?
Once a program item is adopted at the annual meeting or convention, a program committee/team made up of interested members is organized to study the topic selected. For state-wide items, the committee is from around the state; for nation-wide issues, the committee is from all across the U.S.
This group is responsible for pulling together the information and examining all sides of the issue so that the information presented to members will be balanced and objective. The program committee/team devises `questions for discussion’ outlines. Members then answer the questions from which consensus and/or concurrence reports are made. Consensus is agreement among a substantial number, not just a simple majority, of members, reached after study and group discussion. It is the “sense of the meeting.” Consensus does not require unanimity. The presence of disagreement may be noted as a minority opinion, but this does not imply taking a vote. Concurrence is the act of agreeing with or concurring with, a position reached by another League, or study committee, task force, or board. Concurrence is achieved by member agreement with another statement.
The program team/committee, after considering the consensus or concurrence reports, recommends a position statement. The Board then makes any change it thinks appropriate and adopts the position. Once a position is adopted by the respective League board, action may be taken in support of the position. This may include providing information to the public, building public opinion, lobbying, testifying at public hearings, issuing media releases, writing letters to editors and officials, or participating in marches or rallies.
Members can find more information on the process of Program at the LWVUS website in LEAGUE BASICS where you will find a special section Overview of Program.
Positions for LWV-VA and Other Leagues
NOTE (from LWV-VA Bylaws Article 10)
LWV-VA Positions are called Positioned For Action. Click here to read or download the document.
LWVNCA positions cover issues in the Washington, D.C. region which include the D.C. LWV, and Maryland and Virginia Leagues that surround it. See the LWVNCA website or [Read Here.]
LWVUS’ positions are called Impact on Issues and can be found on the website at http://lwv.org/content/impact-issues. LWVUS positions fall into the categories of Representative Government, International Relations, Natural Resources, and Social Policy.