• Education,  Protecting Democracy

    The Peaceful Transition of Presidential Power

    After King Benjamin advised his people concerning their dealings with one another, he urged, “And see that these things be done in wisdom and in order,” repeating, “all things must be done in order” (Mosiah 4:27). Applying this counsel to our citizenship, we can support the peaceful transition of presidential power by advocating for a process with wisdom and order overarching. After serving two terms as the first president of the newly formed United States, long before term limits were established, George Washington declined running for a third term, in part to keep a promise he made early on to not seek “unfair power.” Thus began the history of the…

  • Education,  Protecting Democracy

    Presidential Pardons: Possibilities, Precedents, and Problems

    With presidential pardons in recent news, MWEG offers a Q&A to sort through possibilities, precedents, and potential problems with this presidential power. Q: What are the purposes and types of presidential pardons?A: This power allows a president to forgive criminal offenses through pardons, amnesty, commutation, and reprieve. Informed by the British monarchy, the executive power to pardon was intended to add elements of mercy and clemency to the Constitution. The assumption held that men of virtue would exercise this power for the good of the people and not for their own purposes.  Pardons grant the person complete legal forgiveness of a crime, as if it had never happened. Amnesty does…

  • Education

    The Post-Truth Era

    Analysis by Alexa Dadson Historically, political decisions and debates have been informed by widely agreed-upon facts. However, as people increasingly use social media as a news source, and as journalistic institutions turn to sensationalism in order to compete, trust in sources formerly considered to be credible is decaying. Research institutions are accused of having political objectives or bias, adding to the widespread distrust. Disagreements over historical or scientific facts take up more time in political discussions than discourse about solutions to issues. This combination of factors has created a “post-truth era” characterized by a deteriorating consensus around public truth claims. Post-truth denotes “circumstances in which objective facts are less influential…

  • Call to Action,  Shoulder to Shoulder

    Call to Action: Urge Federal Elected Officials and the President to Create Lasting Bipartisan Immigration Solutions That Are Secure, Humane, Efficient, and Focused on Growth

    The American people have cast their majority vote, and President-elect Donald Trump will take office this January. As he begins working to enact his immigration campaign promises, we pray for and call on him and other elected officials to ensure future policies and actions are rooted in moral, ethical, practical, and legal principles. Some MWEG leaders are traveling to Capitol Hill in D.C. this week to talk to legislators about immigration and would love to hand deliver your letters that convey your personal convictions on this important and urgent issue! Use our advocacy tool to write a letter to your representatives. Quickly enter your contact information, write your letter, and…

  • Official Statements,  Protecting Democracy

    MWEG Response to the 2024 Election Results

    On November 5, 2024, millions of American citizens cast their votes for the next president of the United States, and Donald J. Trump emerged as the clear winner. As it was four years ago, the election was free and fair. In preparation for the election, our organization tirelessly worked alongside countless organizations and individuals to shore up our election systems against potential scenarios that would harm public trust. We acknowledge with gratitude the government employees, poll workers, and volunteers (including many members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government) who made this familiar process fair. Across the nation, a multitude of voters made significant sacrifices to cast their ballots, further affirming…

  • Education

    Understanding the Electoral College Today

    After each citizen votes individually, a group of electors called the Electoral College makes the final choice for president and vice president of the United States of America. The Constitution outlines that each state appoints a number of electors equal to its number of senators and representatives, with an amendment later adding the District of Columbia. (U.S. territories do not vote for the presidency, and, therefore, do not have representation in the Electoral College.) With 538 total electors, a presidential candidate needs the majority of votes, or 270, to win the election. The highest number of votes from a state is 54 (California) with the lowest tied at 3 (Alaska,…