I. Representative Government
Promote an open governmental system that is representative, accountable,
and responsive.
Citizen Rights/Voting Rights
Protect the right of all citizens to vote; encourage all citizens to vote.
Citizen's Right to Know/Citizen Participation:
Protect the citizen's right to know and facilitate citizen participation in
government decision making.
Individual Liberties
Oppose major threats to basic constitutional rights.
Public Policy on Reproductive Choices
Protect the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive
choices.
Congress and the Presidency
Congress: Support responsive legislative
processes characterized by accountability, representativeness, decision-making
capability and effective performance.
The Presidency: Promote a dynamic balance
of power between the executive and legislative branches within the framework
set by the Constitution.
DC Self-Government and Full Voting Representation
Secure for the citizens of the District of Columbia the rights of self-government
and representation in both houses of Congress.
Election Process
Apportionment: Support apportionment of congressional
districts and elected legislative bodies at all levels of government based substantially
on population.
Campaign Finance: Improve methods of financing
political campaigns in order to ensure the public's right to know, combat corruption
and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public
office and promote citizen participation in the political process.
Election of the President: Promote the election
of the President and Vice-president by direct popular vote and work to abolish
the Electoral College; support uniform national voting qualifications and procedures
for presidential elections.
Fiscal Policy
Support adequate and flexible funding of federal government programs through
an equitable tax system that is progressive overall and that relies primarily
on a broad-based income tax; promote responsible deficit policies; support a
federal role in providing mandatory, universal, old-age, survivors, disability
and health insurance.
II. International Relations
Promote peace in an interdependent world by cooperating with other nations,
strengthening international organizations, fostering long-term development,
negotiating arms control measures and encouraging the successful resolution
of conflicts through nonmilitary means.
Arms Control
Reduce the risk of war through support of arms control measures.
Military Policy and Defense Spending
Work to limit reliance on military force; examine defense spending in the context
of total national needs
Trade
Support systematic reduction of tariff and nontariff trade barriers and support
broad long-range presidential authority to negotiate trade agreements.
United Nations
Support a strong, effective United Nations and its efforts to promote world
peace and security, and meet the social, economic and humanitarian needs of
the world's people.
U.S. Relations with Developing Countries
Promote US policies that meet long-term social and economic needs of developing
countries.
III. Natural Resources
Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise
management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the interrelationships
of air quality, energy, land use, waste management and water resources.
Resource Management
Promote resource conservation, stewardship and long-range planning with the
responsibility for managing natural resources shared by all levels of government.
Environmental Protection and Pollution Control
Preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem, with
the maximum protection of the public health and environment.
Public Participation
Promote public understanding and participation in decision making as essential
elements of responsible and responsive management of our natural resources.
Agricultural Policy
Promote adequate supplies of food and fiber at reasonable prices to consumers
and support economically viable farms, environmentally sound farm practices
and increased reliance on the free market.
IV. Social Policy
Promote social and economic justice, secure equal rights for all, achieve
universal health care coverage at reasonable cost, promote the well being of
children, and combat discrimination, poverty and violence.
Child Care
Support programs, services and policies at all levels of government to expand
the supply of affordable, quality child care for all who need it.
Early Intervention for Children at Risk
Support policies and programs that promote the well being, development and safety
of all children.
Equality of Opportunity
Support equal access to education, employment and housing. Support ratification
of the Equal Rights Amendment and efforts to bring laws into compliance with
the goals of the ERA.
Health Care
Promote a health care system for the United States that provides access to a
basic level of care for all US residents and controls health care costs.
Meeting Basic Human Needs
Support programs and policies to prevent or reduce poverty and to promote self-sufficiency
for individuals and families.
Gun Control
Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility
and regulating the ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons.
Urban Policy
Promote the economic health of cities and improve the quality of urban life.
Violence Prevention
Support violence prevention programs in all communities.
Whatever the issue, the LWVUS believes that government policy, programs and performance
must meet these criteria:
- Competent personnel with clear responsibilities
- Coordination among agencies and levels of government
- Adequate financing
- Effective enforcement
- Well defined channels for citizen input and review
