League of Women Voters of the United States
League of Women Voters of the United States
Introduction to League of Women Voters of the United States
League of Women Voters of the United States, formerly National League of Women Voters, nonpartisan political organization, founded in 1920 in Chicago for the purpose of educating women in the use of the newly won vote (see Woman Suffrage). The National League of Women Voters was an outgrowth of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, which was dissolved after its goal of woman suffrage had been achieved. Woman suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt was elected honorary president of the new group.
Today, the organization is concerned with political education and action on a wide variety of local, national, and international issues, including governmental reform, education, civil liberties, social welfare, and foreign trade. It conducts an intensive educational program designed to encourage the responsible participation by all citizens in government. The league publicizes the views and qualifications of political candidates of all parties and attempts to secure the passage of legislation in the public interest.
The league has groups in every state and Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Its national headquarters is in Washington, D.C.” (1)
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