There are certain terms that are unique to the League of Women Voters- "League Lingo." Some are listed here to help you follow League discussions:
ACTION - Promoting the League's positions on local, state and national public policy issues to government officials, the media and the public.
ACTION ALERT - Request from the LWVUS, state or local League to take action in support of a League position.
AFFILIATE (aka MAL UNIT) - A state-recognized organized group of at least 8 Members-At-Large, in an area where there is no Local League.
ANNUAL MEETING - Local year-end business meeting to elect officers and directors, vote on bylaw changes and adopt a budget and program of work for the next year.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER - A non-voting member of the League who is under 16 years of age.
CONSENSUS - Collective opinion of a substantial number of League members, representative of the membership as a whole, after objective study of an issue.
CONCURRENCE - Agreement by League members with a position on an issue reached by a small group of members or by another League.
CONVENTION - A state or national League meeting held every other year at which delegates elect officers and directors for the biennium, adopt program, make bylaw changes and adopt a budget, usually for one year. Local Leagues send delegates to state convention, local and state Leagues send delegates to national convention.
COUNCIL - An assembly of delegates held in alternate years to adopt a budget and assess program developments. Local Leagues send delegates to state council, state Leagues send delegates to national council.
EDUCATION FUND - The arm of national, state and large local Leagues, handling funds to be used only for educational purposes, not for action on issues.
LIFE MEMBER - A person who has been a member for 50 years or more. Life members are excused from dues payment and their Leagues pay no per member payment (PMP) for them.
ILO - an Inter-League Organization, formed by local Leagues within a county, metropolitan area or region to act on issues that are beyond the local League area in scope.
LWVUS - League of Women Voters of the United States (the national League)
LWV-VA - League of Women Voters of Virginia (a state League)
MAL - Acronym for Member-At-Large, a member who resides outside the area of, and is not enrolled in, a local League.
MAL UNIT (aka AFFILIATE) - A state-recognized organized group of at least 8 Members-At-Large, in an area where there is no local League.
PMP - Per Member Payment, the amount of money paid to the LWVUS and the state League on behalf of each member.
POSITION - A statement of the League's point of view on an issue, arrived at through member study and agreement (consensus or concurrence), approved by the appropriate board and used as a basis for League action.
PRINCIPLES - Governmental standards and policies supported by the League as a whole. They constitute the authorization for adoption of program at all levels.
PROGRAM - Selected governmental issues chosen by members at the local, state and national levels for study and action.
PROGRAMS - Plans for speakers, discussion or other activities for League meetings.
STUDENT MEMBER - A person between the ages of 16 and 30 enrolled in an accredited institution. Local Leagues pay no per member payment (PMP) for student members.
STUDY [RESTUDY] - Adopted at annual meeting or convention in order to pursue consensus on a new position or add to an existing position
UNIT - Groupings of members within large local Leagues to provide more opportunity for discussion. Units may be time-oriented (day, evening, lunch hour), geographically oriented, or both.
VOTERS' GUIDE - Nonpartisan publication giving candidates' qualifications and positions on selected issues. General Election editions include descriptions of any questions that will be on the ballot.
VOTERS SERVICE - Year-round activity to help citizens be politically effective and to encourage their participation in the political process. Registering voters and presenting factual, nonpartisan information on candidates and election issues are basic voters service activities.
WLRT - Women Legislative Roundtable; a nonpartisan forum moderated by LWV-VA in Richmond during the General Assembly session for discussion of public policy issues and the legislation to address them. All legislators and non-profit groups are invited to speak about pending legislation and the issues they are tracking. Sessions are now held both in-person and on Zoom.
VOTING MEMBERS - All League members who are at least 16 years old.