Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy
Guiding Principles
Our Guiding Principles and Positions
The League of Women Voters operates under guiding principles adopted nationally and by each state League. Leagues at the national, state and local levels also adopt policy positions after careful study and a broad consensus of members. Those positions guide each League on whether to support, oppose or monitor legislation on healthcare, voting rights and our many other key issues. Colorado positions may be found on the LWVCO website. Adams County currently has two county-level positions on Land Use and Health Care.
PRINCIPLES (LWVUS)
The League of Women Voters believes:
• In representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the
United States; that all powers of the U.S. government should be exercised within the constitutional framework of a balance among the three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial.
• That democratic government depends upon informed and active participation in government 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.
• That every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination.
• That efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.
• 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 that affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy and adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of international problems.
• That cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems and that development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.
PRINCIPLE (LWVCO)
• Sustainability is a way of life which seeks a balance in meeting current environmental, economic and human needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet the same goal. The concept of Sustainability is implicit in the Principles of the League of Women Voters. League positions are in compliance with the fundamental principle of Sustainability, recognizing the interdependence among issues of public policy and the impact of current decisions on the global welfare of future generations. (Adopted 2010)
