About the League

What is our mission? How are we structured? What is the mission of our Inter-League Organization (ILO)? What is our history?

Our Mission.  The League of Women Voters of Orange County Inter-League Organization
Mission Statement.  Other Leagues.  Our History.

Our Mission and Roles

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.

The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles.

• Voters Service/Citizen Education: we present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.

• Action/Advocacy: we are also nonpartisan, but, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, we use funds from the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization. The League of Women Voters, a membership organization, conducts action and advocacy and is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation.

Our Vision, Beliefs, and Intentions guide our activities.

The League of Women Voters of Orange County Inter-League Organization
Mission Statement

The League of Women Voters of Orange County Inter-League Organization (LWVOCILO) is a non-partisan organization, which encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Whatever the issue, the League believes that government policy, programs and performance must meet these criteria:

competent personnel with clear responsibilities


coordination among agencies and levels of government


adequate financing


effective enforcement


well-defined channels for citizen input and review

The LWVOC is an Inter-League Organization (ILO) composed of the four local Leagues in Orange County: LWV of Capistrano Bay Area; LWV of Central Orange County Area, LWV of North Orange County and LWV of Orange Coast.

The purpose and activities of the ILO are to study and provide information to LWVOC members and the public on governmental issues of county-wide significance and concern, to take action on the basis of program positions adopted by LWVOC and to coordinate voter service activities connected with county issues and elections. In addition, the LWVOC can coordinate LWV United States (LWVUS) and LWV California (LWVC) positions at the request of the local Leagues.

An Inter-League Organization is organized with the consent of the members of the participating local Leagues, must meet minimum standards set by the LWVUS and is recognized by the LWVUS Board. An ILO adopts bylaws and holds an annual convention at which Officers are elected, a Budget adopted and an Action and Study Program is adopted. In addition, an ILO may send one voting delegate to the LWVUS convention, to the LWVC convention and to the LWVC Presidents' Council. The ILO may also send one voting delegate to the LWVUS Presidents' Council.

An ILO board works closely with the local Leagues in its area. Coverage of ILO program and activities depends on the cooperation and interest of each League in the ILO. Local Leagues share the responsibility of funding the ILO, and leadership for the ILO Board of Directors is drawn from members of the participating local Leagues.

Other League Organizations

Members of the LWV Orange County Inter-League Organization are also members of one of the four local leagues in Orange County. The local leagues are:

• LWV Capistrano Bay Area
• LWV Central Orange County
• LWV North Orange County
• LWV Orange Coast

Our members are also members of:

• League of Women Voters of California, and
• "League of Women Voters of the United States"<http://www.lwv.org/">.

See other Leagues in California and other state Leagues and local League websites.

History of the League of Women Voters

Read a short history of the League of Women Voters.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: December 22, 2007 11:41 PST.

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