Overview of The National Women's Lobby Structure What is the National Women's Lobby?
What is the Structure of the NWL
What is the National Women's Lobby™?
The National Women's Lobby,™ a division of the USWCC, coordinates and advocates for national and state-based non-governmental women's organizations to increase the influence of women in political affairs through: - Monitoring state and national legislative activity and taking appropriate action.
- Serving as a link between political decision makers and women's organizations.
- Reporting the needs and issues of women to political decision makers.
- Promoting the creation and implementation of public policy that supports the needs and viewpoints of NWL members and member organizations.
The structure shown above is for both the national and statewide NWL organizations. Each state organization mirrors the national structure - and may address local issues using the same process as the national organization. The NWL is comprise of six principal organs: - General Assembly
- High Council of Leaders
- WEDA: Women's Economic Development (committee)
- WSPA: Women's Social Policy Alliance (committee)
- WIAA: Women's International Affairs Alliance (committee)
- Secretariat
- General Assembly - the primary organ of the NWL. The General Assembly shall be comprised of one delegate each from every Association Member of the NWL. This includes state-based organizations as well as national. Through the use of technology, the NWL will reach very quickly to a broad and deep representation of women leaders in the U.S.
- All campaigns and resolutions must be supported by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly to be acted upon by the NWL. However, even with an affirmative two-thirds vote, member organizations may decide whether or not they wish to participate or support a given campaign or resolution without jeopardizing their participation in the NWL.
- The General Assembly shall meet virtually whenever a resolution or campaign is submitted for consideration.
- Delegates to the General Assembly shall serve until replaced by a 51% vote of their state organizations.
- Once a year, the General Assembly will hold a national meeting to discuss broader issues of strategy, meet with guest experts, etc.
- High Council of Leaders - coordinates the activities of the NWL. HCL members are delegates (one per organization) of women's non-governmental organizations with national scope (presence in at least 25 states and paid membership of 1,000 or more).
- These delegate leaders are traditionally the presidents or council leaders of national women's organizations.
- Their organizations and their leaders act independently of any political party or religious authority.
- The HCL may bring proposed campaigns or resolutions directly to the General Assembly (bypassing the committee process). The HCL may edit, revise, add to or remove portions of proposed campaigns or resolutions prior to submission to the General Assembly.
- Campaigns and resolutions must pass through the HCL with at least 51% affirmation to be presented to the General Assembly.
- Delegates to the HCL may include written comments with each resolution or campaign to clarify the viewpoint of their organization.
- HCL members also serve as delegates to the General Assembly
- The HCL shall elect a president and four person steering group to assist with coordination. These leaders shall serve until they are replaced by a majority vote of the HCL.
- Delegates to the General Assembly may serve on one committee only. They must be able to provide evidence of their expertise in the area of their committee. Delegates indicate the committee of their choice. However, the HCL makes final decisions on committee assignments.
- WEDA: Women's Economic Development (committee) - addresses the economic development issues of entrepreneurs including small business growth, access to government procurement markets, international trade, access to capital and job creation.
- Members of committees may bring proposed campaigns or resolutions to the HCL for consideration (see proposal process) with at least a 51% affirmation of the committee.
- Committee members will also reach into their communities to understand issues and challenges and create reports and studies to help support the campaigns and resolutions of the NWL. All reports and studies must be presented to the HCL for approval prior to publication by the Secretariat.
- Committee leaders may champion NWL resolutions and campaigns to political and community leaders.
- Each committee selects a four person steering group to assist with the coordination of the committee. These leaders shall serve until they are replaced by a majority vote of the committee.
- WSPA: Women's Social Policy Alliance (committee) - addresses the broad list of government policies that affect the lives of women including healthcare, education, budgets, victim's rights, etc.
- See details of committee as listed above under WEDA.
- WIAA: Women's International Affairs Alliance (committee) - addresses the U.S policy and relations with other countries with a special focus on the needs of women around the globe. The WIAA also works to establish relations with women's lobbies from other countries to work in coordination toward common goals.
- See details of committee as listed above under WEDA.
- Secretariat - The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce serves as the Secretariat of the NWL providing the administrative and representative backbone of the organization. The USWCC shall provide a senior leader to serve as the Secretary General and community liaison of the NWL. (The USWCC will also provide delegates to the HCL and General Assembly to represent USWCC members.)
What is the Proposal Process? - Click Here | 
