Immigration: The League of Women Voters believes that immigration policies should promote reunification of immediate families; meet the economic, business and employment needs of the United States; and be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises. Provision should also be made for qualified persons to enter the United States on student visas. All persons should receive fair treatment under the law.

Global Warming: The LWV of the United States believes that Global climate change is one of the most serious threats to the environment, health and economy of our nation. LWVUS supports initiatives to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases; such actions will reduce the threat of global warming, combat air pollution, increase energy security and create new jobs. (1998)

Environment

The League of Women Voters promotes an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest.

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT: Action to promote the environmentally sound management of hazardous waste and to educate the public on safe disposal procedures. (1984)

1. Ample opportunity and funding for active public participation including timely scheduling and notification of public meetings.
2. Provisions by local, state and federal governments of the following types of information on the impact of solid waste actions:
   • a.

Social Policy

The League of Women Voters supports Social Policies that secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all, and that promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans.

HOUSING: Action to develop a state housing policy responsive to the need for more affordable housing and to clarify landlord/tenant relationships. (1982, 1983)

EDUCATION: Action to support measures which recognize the primary responsibility for funding public elementary and secondary education lies with the state. (1972, 1975) Action to support the state aiding local school systems in attracting and retaining competent teachers. (1989) Action to oppose using public funding for vouchers to enable parents to send their children to private elementary and secondary schools. (2001) Action to encourage the inclusion of certain criteria in any legislation or regulations governing the establishment of Public Charter Schools. (2001)  Action to insure students have an opportunity to pass high school graduation tests. (2005)

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TESTING – insure students have an opportunity to pass high school graduation tests. (2005)

• a. Public Charter Schools must be non sectarian, non religious, non profit, and not home-based;
• b. Applications may be submitted by a variety of groups or organizations, including, but not limited to, parents, teachers and institutions of higher learning;
• c. Local boards of education determine which groups or organizations will be granted contracts i.e., "charters"), with the right to an appeal of that decision to the State Board of Education;
• d. Waivers (to be specified in the contract) may include some public school regulations governing curriculum, calendar, and teaching methodology. No waivers may be granted from regulations governing fiscal accountability, nor (as specified by federal regulations) from civil rights or health and safety standards;
• e. Quarterly financial reports should be made to the local school board;
• f. Academic standards, including testing, required of other public school students must be met;
• g. Admission must be non-discriminatory and open on a first-come, first-served basis to all students who wish to apply, and
• h. Public Charter Schools must be funded at the same per pupil level as students in other public schools. 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Action to support preventing initial and repeat occurrences of violence against spouses, domestic partners, the elderly, and children. - Action to support a strong statewide response to violence that is integrated, interdisciplinary, and adequately funded, involving all segments of the law-enforcement and judicial systems, the medical community, the schools, social services, animal care and control agencies, and the private sector, with a primary focus on the safety of victims. (2000)

Government

The League of Women Voters promotes an open governmental system that is representative, accountable, and responsive. Whatever the issue, the League believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibilities, adequate financing, coordination among levels of government, effective enforcement, and well-defined channels for citizen input and review.

FISCAL POLICY: Action to promote an equitable and efficient fiscal structure for Maryland and to improve the fiscal relationships between the state and its political subdivisions. Action to support or oppose proposed changes to Maryland’s revenue structure, using certain principles to analyze and evaluate the proposed changes. Action to increase the budgetary authority of the legislature and to achieve a more effective budget process. (1976, 1981, 1999, 2004)

FISCAL STRUCTURE (1976, 1981, 1999) Support for:

ELECTION PROCESS: Action to assure fair campaigns and elections. Action to institute elections to fill vacancies in the General Assembly. Action to support a closed primary election, a mix of single and multi-member legislative districts and coterminous boundaries. Action to oppose term limits for members of the General Assembly. Action to assure an election system that is equitable, accessible, fiscally responsible, accountable and enforceable.  Opposition to a requirement for uniform voting systems unless funded by the state.&

1. Special primary and special general elections to fill vacancies in the Maryland General Assembly to be held at the same time as other regularly scheduled elections (tie-in elections).
2. A temporary gubernatorial appointment to fill legislative vacancies based on local political party committee recommendations, until elections are held.
3. Additional statewide standards regulating the central committee nominating process to fill legislative vacancies, public notice of meetings within the vacated district for public input, the public announcement of candidates prior to that meeting, and a publicly recorded vote of each committee member.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE: Action to secure an effective, nonpartisan judiciary and to promote fair and appropriate sentencing, including the abolition of the death penalty; and a correctional system, including probation and other alternatives to incarceration, that protects society and prepares offenders for successful reintegration into the community.

1. The abolition of the death penalty.
2. For so long as Maryland has a death penalty, the League supports the following reforms for its equitable and consistent application:
   • a. uniform, statewide, criteria for death penalty prosecutions.
   • b. changing the standard of proof in weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors in sentencing from “preponderance of the evidence” to “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
   • c. requiring prosecutors to provide open file discovery and all favorable evidence to the defense, and to establish uniform internal guidelines for cases that are particularly subject to human error, such as those relying on eyewitnesses, co-defendants or jailhouse informants.
   • d. having mechanisms for preserving evidence such as DNA and for introducing newly discovered evidence.
   • e. requiring judges to explain to jurors life without parole as a sentencing option and to charge the jury to weigh mitigating factors.
   • f. effective defense including methods to screen, appoint and supervise lawyers representing defendants charged with capital crimes, adequate compensation for public defense counsel and sufficient funding to mount an effective defense.

1. Use of specialized judges, counseling services and administration of juvenile cases all geared to dealing with families.
2. Small, regional juvenile institutions.
3. Individually designed training and treatment programs and local or regional diagnostic services for juvenile offenders.
4. Coordination of programs and services for juvenile offenders provided by the state agencies.
5. 24-hour supervised residential work and restitution centers with treatment programs available.

1. evaluated continually by a panel of judges, legislators and others interested in sentencing.
2. expanded to include alternative sentencing.

LAND USE/HOUSING