League of Women Voters of Maryland

A. Action at the State Government Level
Action to obtain support for League positions includes oral and/or written testimony to members of the General Assembly, committees of the General Assembly, the Governor, state agencies, state study commissions, state-level meetings and public hearings, and contacts with state officials.

1. Responsibility for Action. All action at the state governmental level in the name of the LWVMD  is the responsibility of the Board. Only the President, legislative action coordinator, or a director or other member designated by the President may speak for or take action on behalf of the LWVMD. LLs and MAL units may take action on state governmental issues only when authorized to do so by the state Board and only in conformity with, not contrary to, the position taken by the LWVMD. Individual members may act in the name of the League only when authorized to do so by the state Board. (See the LWVMD Bylaws, Article X, Section 5 and Section 6.)  Each LL and MAL unit president has a formal responsibility to send a letter from the LL or MAL unit, or take whatever other official action is requested, in response to every League Action Alert. The LWVMD may also request that LLs and MAL units ask their members to contact state officials and speak as individual citizens, but not as League members, on issues of concern to the LWVMD.
2. The Basis for Program Action.  Action at the state level must be based on LWVMD or LWVUS positions and/or principles, or in some instances, on LL or MAL unit positions. If there is some question about whether or not a contemplated action is authorized under a LWVUS position, clearance and clarification will be sought from the LWVUS. 
3. Initiation of Action at the state level by LLs, MAL units and ILOs. Before a LL, MAL unit or ILO initiates action at the state governmental level based on national, state, ILO, LL or MAL unit positions, the LL, MAL unit or ILO board must obtain LWVMD Board approval. In considering whether to grant permission, the following criteria will be applied:

• a. Does the issue or legislation relate to other LLs or MAL units and other counties?
• b. Is there a conflict in position among LLs and MAL units within the state?
• c. Would such action be in conflict with current LWVMD or LWVUS positions?
• d. Is the issue under study by LLs or MAL units with an eye toward state member agreement?
• e. Is the issue divisive within the state?

If all the answers to these questions are negative, the Board will probably grant permission, particularly if the legislation is clearly local. If the issue or legislation applies across the state,  the Board also may grant approval in some cases.  In cases where time for approval is too short for board review,  and if   approval seems routine,  the President may grant approval for LL, MAL or ILO action.

 Guidelines for LLs,  MAL units and ILOs for action at the state level on local positions are described in Section III.

B. Action at the Federal Government Level

1. In response to Action Alerts issued by LWVUS

• The LWVMD has the primary responsibility for contacting U.S.Maryland. LLs and MAL units should also contact the Maryland’s U.S. Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representative whenever possible. 
•  LLs and MAL units also may encourage their members to contact their congressmen (both senators and the representatives) from their districts. The members should act as individuals and not in the name of the League.

 2. Initiated by the LWVMD, LLs or MAL units. With LWVUS approval, the League, LLs and MAL units may contact federal officials about proposed federal legislation that directly affects the State or a local area.

C. Public Responsibility

• LWVMD, LL, MAL unit and ILO leaders,  (officers, board members or off-board directors) may not advocate in opposition to a LWVMD position. If the LWVMD has no position on the issue, they may testify as individuals.
• A LWVMD spokesperson cannot speak both for the LWVMD and another organization unless the two organizations have the same positions on the matter. 

II.  PROCEDURES

 A. Legislative Priorities. Each year the Board canvasses LLs and MAL units for suggestions on legislative priorities for the next General Assembly session. The Board selects the priority issues based on input from the LLs, MAL units and state Board members. The priorities establish the framework for LWVMD action on legislation. LWVMD’s formal Action Alerts or Calls to Action to LLs and MAL units generally pertain to proposed legislation related to the adopted priority issues.

 B. Networks. LLs and MAL units establish a network of members responsible for contacting members of the General Assembly when requested to do so by an Action Alert or Calls to Action sent by the LWVMD. The members of the networks are prepared to respond as quickly as possible by contacting their legislators. The members lobby their legislators as individuals.

C. Copies of letters to Legislators.  LLs and LWVMD leaders should send copies of their letters to members of the U.S. Congress to the LWVMD President and the LWVUS Legislative Action Department. LL and LWVMD leaders should send copies of letters to state government officials to the LWVMD President or to the  Legislative Action Coordinator.

III. GUIDELINES FOR TAKING ACTION AT THE STATE GOVERNMENT LEVEL BASED ON  LOCAL POSITIONS

If the Board grants permission to a LL,  MAL unit or ILO to contact state government officials to promote a LL or MAL unit position:

• The LL, MAL unit or ILO may share with its legislators the research and results of the LWVMD or LL study on the issue and request that they submit it to the appropriate legislative committees;
• The LL, MAL unit or ILO may speak directly on the possible effect of the pending legislation on its city, county or counties. When the legislation reaches the House or Senate floor, the LL, MAL unit or ILO may contact delegates or senators in its local districts; 
• The LL, MAL unit or ILO may testify to the standing committees of the legislature if the bill applies only to its city, county or counties. The LL, MAL unit or ILO should send a copy of its testimony to the LWVMD office before the hearing(s).  With specific Board approval,  a LL or MAL unit may also testify on bills which apply statewide.
• The LWVMD may notify other LLs, MAL units or ILO of  such action via the State Board Letter.