The League of Women Voters of Michigan published a "New members Handbook" in 2023. The full handbook can be downloaded here. Excerpts from the handbook are shown below:

MISSION STATEMENT

·      Mission: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

·      Vision: We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate in the democratic process.

·      Value: We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy.

HISTORY

Carrie Chapman Catt and others organized the League of Women Voters of the United States in 1920. The League of Women Voters of Michigan was formed a year earlier on April 4, 1919 at a convention of the Michigan Equal Suffrage Association. The League’s first goal was to teach women how to exercise their new right to vote; the scope was soon enlarged to include service to all citizens. Political action based on knowledge gained from study became the cornerstone of the League’s diverse agenda.

NONPARTISANSHIP

The League never supports or opposes any political party or candidate for elective office. Because of scrupulous adherence to this nonpartisan political policy, the League takes action only in the public interest and only on issues on which members have reached consensus after conducting studies. However, as individuals, League members are encouraged to join fully in the political process.

ORGANIZATION

Membership in the League of Women Voters is open to all persons who are at least 16 years old.

The League of Women Voters works on local, state and national levels. At all levels, members have a voice in what will be studied, what action will be taken, how League money will be spent, and who League leaders will be. The League is a grassroots organization, and members are very protective of this approach.

The League of Women Voters Education Fund, created to strengthen League activities in education and voter service, functions under the auspices of the League of Women Voters, but legally exists as a discrete organization.

Contributions to the Education Fund can be considered tax‐deductible. The Education Fund never advocates and never lobbies.

MEETINGS

Each local League determines its own schedule. A meeting for all members is usually called a General Meeting. The membership may divide into smaller groups, called units, which meet for discussion. Units are effective for different interest groups or when members are scattered over a large geographic area.

Members meet to study and to discuss issues such as voting rights, land use, taxes, water resources, human needs, international trade and issues of local concern. All League meetings are open to the public.

Each local League holds an Annual Meeting to elect officers, set local dues, and adopt local programs, bylaws and budget. All members may attend the Annual Meeting.

PRINCIPLES

Governance

• 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 efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.
• The League of Women Voters believes that government should be responsive to the will of the people in the following ways. 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.
• adopt domestic policies which facilitate the solution of international problems.

Rights of US Residents

The League of Women Voters believes that:

• every citizen should be protected in the right to vote.
• every person should have access to free public education which provides equal opportunity for all.
• no person or group should suffer legal, economic or
• administrative discrimination.

The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of the proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible.

World Citizenship

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.

ACTION

After reaching agreement and announcing a position, local, state or national Leagues take action by:

• working with other organizations (coalitions).
• speaking out through letter‐writing and e‐mail campaigns and through visits to legislators and public officials (based on our positions, we support or oppose legislation/ballot measures).
• testifying at legislative and administrative hearings. monitoring elections and other government activities.
• litigating to help clarify laws in the public interest.

The League sends observers to meetings of local, regional, state, and national government bodies. Observers do not speak for the League but attend meetings to listen, to learn, and to make factual reports.

VOTER SERVICE*

The League encourages people to register, vote and take part in government and politics. League members register voters, sponsor candidate and issue forums or debates, and provide information about voting. Some Leagues prepare a Voters’ Guide providing objective, balanced election information. A Voters’ Guide does not state League positions. The Voters’ Guide may be available in many formats including online or print. Some Leagues coordinate a mock election for schools to help students learn the importance of participating in democracy.

*These activities are supported by the Education Fund

COMMUNITY INFORMATION*

Educating our citizens about government and relevant state and local issues is a major League activity. Through community handbooks, political directories, and factual studies of issues, the League provides unbiased information necessary for an informed electorate. Community organizations often call upon the League for speakers on selected topics about government.

PROGRAM*

Annual Program Planning

League program at every level consists of those issues members choose for concentrated study and action. At each year’s program planning meeting, members discuss ideas for local and state or national program topics or studies.

Deciding What to Study

Proposals are submitted to the appropriate Board of Directors. The Board then considers the proposals, formulates a recommended program and presents it to the membership at the Annual Meeting of the local League or to the delegates at the state or national Convention. Not recommended items can also be considered at each level. Such issues must fall within League principles and must be ones on which government action can be taken. Final decisions on state and national program are made by a vote of the delegates to the respective Convention.

The Study Process

Once a study has been adopted, the Board appoints a chairperson of the “resource” or study committee and other members are solicited to serve on the committee. The resource committee gathers information on the study item, analyzes information, clarifies issues, and identifies problems. The committee presents all sides of the issue to members. The study may include tours, guest speakers, interviews, and other activities. When the study has been completed, a report is published.

Formulating a League Position

Before the League can act, members must agree in broad terms on various aspects of the issue. To formulate a position, or statement of action, the League takes consensus. Consensus, or agreement, is reached through group discussion. Members come to an overall “sense of the group” as expressed through the exchange of ideas and opinions. It is from this agreement that the League formulates a position statement for action.

League positions can also be reached through concurrence, or agreeing with a proposed statement. League members or Boards can concur with recommendations or a statement from a task force, a resource committee, a unit group, or any League Board.

PUBLICATIONS

League publications are important tools for carrying out our purpose. They are researched, written and distributed by members at every level. The League provides its materials free of charge to members, and in most cases, to the public.

Aside from program study reports and Voters’ Guides mentioned earlier, other publications include member newsletters published locally, nationally, and at the state level (usually titled The Voter). Other publications include annual reports, study report summaries, presentations, web sites, and more. In order to accommodate a diversity of needs, items are published in multiple formats, including print and on the Internet.

CONVENTIONS AND COUNCILS

The national Convention—for the League of Women Voters of the United States—is held biennially in even‐numbered years. Delegates are elected by local Leagues in numbers proportionate to their membership. Any voting member of the League is eligible to serve as a Convention delegate. Observers and guests may attend but not vote. Delegates debate and vote on program, budget, financial support, and bylaws. They elect officers for the next biennium.

The national Council is held in odd‐numbered years. Voting members include two delegates from each state plus the national Board of Directors.

The League of Women Voters of Michigan holds its Convention in odd‐numbered years.

FINANCE

League is a nonprofit organization that must have adequate financing to operate and to achieve its goals. The League adopts a budget to support local activities. Financial support comes from members, non- members and the community at large.

Dues are one source of League income. Each local League decides the amount of dues and the method for collecting them. A large portion of the dues, called Per Member Payment or PMP, goes for the support of the state and national levels.

The League conducts fundraising campaigns at every level to augment income from dues. Dues are not tax deductible.

Education Fund

LWVUS, LWVMI, and some local Leagues have separate Education Funds. These funds qualify as 501c (3) organizations under the Internal Revenue Code and may accept tax-deductible contributions These funds must be used for Voter Service activities or balanced, impartial information on governmental issues, study guides, surveys, research projects and litigation in the public interest.