State and Local League Request Form for Federal Issues

Effectively speaking with one voice requires a partnership at all League levels for any action taken on national legislative issues involving federal law or in federal court issues. The LWVUS Advocacy and Litigation (A&L) Department leads the organization’s federal lobbying work and federal legal advocacy and litigation. The A&L Department provides information to state and local Leagues about advocacy priorities and litigation efforts that help inform all levels of League.

All action at the federal level relating to federal law or brought in federal court, must be authorized by the LWVUS office as outlined in Article V, Section 1, Article VI, Section 1, and Article XII, Section 3 of the LWVUS bylaws. Together, these provisions specify that local Leagues may take local action on local issues and state Leagues may take state action on state issues. To take federal action—including legal action—state and local Leagues must seek authorization from and coordinate with LWVUS.
This includes any effort aimed at influencing a decision on a federal issue, such as communicating with an elected or appointed official or government agency, joining a coalition, taking part in a national press conference or rally, writing a letter-to-the-editor in a national publication, sending a demand letter relating to a violation of federal law, or joining any legal action as a party (e.g., plaintiff, intervenor, amicus) to be filed in federal court using the LWV brand.

A state or local League wishing to take a federal advocacy action or participate in legal advocacy involving federal law or federal litigation should consult with LWVUS about the intended action. Note that any federal action must be supported by League positions. Review our positions here: https://www.lwv.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/LWV_ImpactOnIssues2022-2024.pdf. 

Depending on the action, the state/local League is asked to provide the following information in writing. If the information is not included, the form will be returned to you for more information and a response will be delayed:

For federal lobbying (including contacting elected, appointed, and agency or administration officials)

1. The proposed action and the message to be conveyed;
   a) If you are requesting to send or co-sign a letter, please attach that letter in the appropriate section of this form.
2. The LWVUS position on which the action is based;
3. The timeline for action (e.g., sending the message or deadline for signing the letter); and
4. Details about other groups that are involved in this effort;
   If the request pertains to a regional issue, or the issue affects multiple Leagues, please coordinate with those affected Leagues before completing this form (for example, if multiple Leagues would like to sign a letter addressed to a Federal official, please acquire confirmation from each affected League that they will participate and then one League may submit this form on behalf of all affected Leagues).
5. Evidence that the issue is a priority for that state or local League. Evidence of an existing policy position is required. If a local League is requesting permission to contact US Senator(s) on an issue that has not been the subject of an LWVUS Action Alert, it should provide evidence that the action has been authorized by its state League. Additionally, if a local League is joining a coalition letter at the state level, you must also have sign-off from your state League. Leagues may not send messages to members of Congress that do not represent them, i.e. Speaker of the House, Committee Chairs, congressional leadership, and other members of leadership.

1. The proposed legal action or litigation and LWVUS position underlying the basis for action (voting rights, improving elections, redistricting, money in politics, healthcare, etc.);
2. Details about other groups that are involved in this effort, including those who would be plaintiffs, intervenors, amici, or co-signatories;
3. Name of legal partner(s), including any organizations or firms who would be counsel;
4. U.S. Court where lawsuit would be filed or entity where legal action is directed; and
5. Deadline for confirming participation and basis for the deadline (e.g., effective date of a law).