Introduction and Overview

The purposes of the League of Women Voters are "to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues."(LWVUS Bylaws, II — 1; state and local bylaws contain similar or identical statements)

This section addresses action on governmental issues, often in the form of advocacy for specific legislation, including lobbying. For information about the League's other major purpose-the promotion of informed participation — see Voting and Citizen Information.

Advocacy by the League of Women Voters is grounded in formally approved positions. Positions are created and modified in elaborate processes of study and agreement. They are reviewed periodically and often remain in force for many years. The League advocates solutions only to those issues that are addressed in its principles or positions. See Reaching Positions, Historical Overview of Program Planning, and our policy on Statewide Studies and Positions.

On the basis of its formally established principles, the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) sets positions for Leagues at all levels. Principles and the national positions are presented and discussed in Impact on Issues, a publication of LWVUS.

The League of Women Voters of Indiana (LWVIN) sets additional positions for itself and the statewide membership. State positions must not conflict with national positions.

Local Leagues in Indiana create and maintain their own positions. These must not conflict with state or national positions.

The positions of LWVIN are presented here, current as of May 1, 2009. Following an on-going review, several modifications are expected in 2009 and soon thereafter. See Review and Restudy of State Positions.

Positions commonly are accompanied by background statements. At present, nearly all background statements come from the LWVIN reference document called From Study to Action 2006. From Study to Action 2006 is being replaced by the information on this website.