LWVUS Convention 2024: Process to Propose Bylaws Amendments

The submission deadline was February 26.

One of the many important business items at the national convention is the review and possible amendment of the LWVUS Bylaws. Below is the process that Leagues should use to propose an amendment. All proposed amendments are reviewed by the Bylaws Committee. 

Bylaws Committee: Monica Skoko Rodríguez, Chair (LWVUS) ▪ Melissa Breach (LWVUS) ▪ Judy Andree (AK) ▪ Caroline Sedlacek (NE) ▪ Toni Zimmer (NJ)

Proposals will be considered ONLY if they are properly worded and received by February 26, 2024.

The submission form is below. If you don't see a form the direct link is https://forms.office.com/r/AjaXhG9W7K.

Before getting started make sure you have the following: 

1. Your League's proposal is recorded and the comments are pre-typed and ready to be cut and pasted into this form. Track changes will not work in this form.  You will be asked to submit your proposed amendment(s) to the bylaws with the following information:  

• Indicate the specific Article and Section being amended.  

• Quote current bylaw and your proposed changes. 

• Provide a rationale for each amendment that is no more than 100 words.  

• Use [ ] brackets to denote words to be deleted. 

• Use ALL CAPS to denote words to be added.  

Example of Proper Bylaws Proposal from a prior Convention: 

Article II 

Purposes and Policy 

Section 1. Purposes. The purposes of the LWVUS are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation [of citizens] in government and to act on selected governmental issues

Proposed by LWV of Minneapolis (MN422) 

Rationale (provided by LWV of Minneapolis): In our community and all across the country, there are thousands of immigrants who are not yet citizens. We, as the LWV, work with them to inform them about democracy and prepare them to be good citizens. Even if a resident is not a citizen he or she has a right to understand the system and to take action to ask questions of their school board members who direct the education of their children. This is true for other local officials who daily impact the lives of residents. 

2. Your League ID (the five-digit code consisting of your two-letter state and 3 additional numbers) is helpful, but not necessary.  If you don't know this number, you can find it listed on your League's page on the Find A Local League page of the LWVUS website. 

This form is NOT for individual members to share their suggestions. The bylaws state that all proposals must come from a state or local League (or the LWVUS Board).  

If your League has more than one proposed amendment topic, please fill out an additional form for each one using the same link. 

Convention delegates will vote on any proposed changes to the LWVUS Bylaws that are submitted by the deadline and are moved during the Plenary. 

For questions about this process, contact the Bylaws Committee via [email protected].