• The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen's right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open public meetings and making public records available.
• The League of Women Voters believes that every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination.
  
• The League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.
  
• The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; that government should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems which affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy and adopt policies which facilitate the solution of international problems.
  
• The League of Women Voters believes that cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems, and that the development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.
  

Where do the principles come from?
The Principles are concepts of government to which the League subscribes. These concepts are the direct descendant of The Platform, which served the League from 1942 to 1956 as the national repository for principles supported and positions taken by the League as a whole in fields of government to which it has given sustained attention. Since that time, the Principles have served two functions, according to the LWVUS Bylaws:

1. authorization for adoption of national, state and local program (Article VII), and
2. as a basis for taking action at the national, state and local levels (Article VIII).

The national board suggests that any action on the Principles be taken in conjunction with present League positions to which they apply and on which any member agreement and understanding are known to exist. The Principles are rather broad when standing alone, so it is necessary to exercise a certain degree of caution when considering using them as a basis of action. Furthermore, since 1974, most of the Principles have been an integral part of the national program, most notably in the criteria for evaluating government action that appear at the end of a formal listing of program.