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League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
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Our Mission
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Diversity Policy
The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica in both its values and practices, affirms its belief and commitment to diversity and pluralism, which means there shall be no barriers to participation in any activity of the LWV on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.
 

September 22, 2015  

The Constitution of the United States of America on a wooden desk

You have read here before: Studies are the heart of the League. If you read in the paper that the League of Women Voters is supporting a piece of legislation, if you get a "Call to Action" type email that includes our name and logo, if you get a mailer at election time that indicates the League is supporting or opposing an initiative--you can rest assured that the League, at the proper governmental level--local, state or national--has conducted a study of the issue, has come to consensus in meetings across the jurisdiction and formulated a position that has been ratified by both the appropriate board, and by the membership at a membership wide meeting.  These are not casual, off the cuff, opinions of a few people.

We will do the work and come to consensus on four important issues this League year.  During the fall we will address the national focus, "Key Structures of Democracy", with two studies.  The first one, our October meeting, is about amending the Constitution of the United States (see below). The second part, in November, is about Money in Politics or Campaign Finance Reform. Look for a future article soon..

After the first of the year we will look at both a state and a local study.  The state study of Public Higher Education in California has background study material available on line and the study guide will be published later this month.  The local study about Community Choice access to electric energy will be ready in the spring. 

These studies, and ones like them over the past years, provide the positions we use to advocate, to take action. Any member is welcome to work on these studies and to partake of the consensus.  This is part of being an active League member.
 
     
LWVUS Studies
 
The LWVUS Convention in 2014 voted to conduct a study on amending the U.S. Constitution. The Santa Monica League will be meeting to discuss this issue and to see if our members can come to a consensus (agreement) on the details of the process and when it should be used. Reserve October 24th at 11:00a.m to 2:00p.m. to join in the discussion.  Brown bag lunch if you wish.  We will supply drinks. 
 
Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides for two ways of proposing amendments to the nation's fundamental charter. Congress, by a two-thirds vote of both chambers, may propose amendments to the states for ratification. Three-fourths of the states (38) must ratify the amendment for it to become law. This method was used by Congress to submit 33 amendments to the states, beginning with the Bill of Rights. 27 of these were approved and 26 are currently in effect (Prohibition was repealed).
 
The second method in Article V of the Constitution has never been successfully invoked. This method requires the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (34) to ask Congress to call a convention and the amendment(s) proposed has to be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
 
The League study will explore the process for proposing an Article V Convention in order to determine whether LWVUS will support such a convention and, if so, under what circumstances.  More background information is available here.

Thea Brodkin and Barbara Inatsugu
Study Committee co-chairs 
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
September 26, 10:00a.m. 
County Fall League Day--Voter Outreach 
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Pasadena
Ideas for reaching non-voters and getting out the vote.
More information and a reservation form are here.

September 28, 6:30p.m. 
Regular Board Meeting 
All members are welcome
Call or email for location 
 
September 30. 7:00p.m
A Conversation About Education
Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium
Santa Monica Main Library
No charge
 
October 24
Save the date 
Consensus meeting on Constitutional Amendments
Time and location to be determined.
      
November 14, 1:00p.m. 
Save the date 
Consensus meeting on Money in Politics
Location to be determined 
   
DID YOU KNOW
VOTER REGISTRATION red Rubber Stamp over a white background.
Today is Voter Registration Day

No immediate election in Santa Monica but it is always good to keep current. If you have moved, got married or otherwise changed your name or residence, you need to re register. On line registration is only a click away. 

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League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
P. O. Box 1265
Santa Monica, CA 90406
Phone: 310-692-1494
www.lwvsantamonica.org  

 

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