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Official Statement on Executive Orders
On his first day in office, as promised, President Trump signed 26 executive orders — a significant departure from past administrations. The sheer number and scope of orders signed on a single day is overwhelming. Governing by mandate is designed to disrupt and show force. It does not honor the dispersion of power and checks and balances so carefully built into our Constitution, and it violates historical norms that have ensured stability and consistency of expectation for the governed. Although executive orders should be reserved for administrative directives or actual emergencies, in recent decades they have been regularly used by presidents of both parties to bypass deliberative legislative process and…
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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…
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Official Statement on Political Violence
In his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln said, “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” This sentiment stands the test of time as a guidepost for a peaceful society. A commitment to peacemaking is the foundation for a healthy society that champions a variety of political values and ideals. From coast to coast, the range of life experience and thought within the United States of America is remarkable. Our culture is a conglomeration of wide-ranging ideas and priorities resulting from the diverse experiences of our population. We are each informed by our unique…
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Official Statement on the Upcoming Election
The United States of America has a storied history of self-governance. The once-radical idea that “we the people” can select our own government representatives is empowering. For nearly 250 years, our remarkable democratic republic has persisted and continued to align itself more closely with these ideals. What does a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” mean? It means citizens can choose what we want our government to look like. We have the opportunity to elect officials who will reflect the values we hold dear. Through our votes, we choose the political environment of our nation. In recent years, a subset of our elected officials and candidates…
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Official Statement on the Vote for Speaker of the House
This week, when members of the House of Representatives reconvene to vote for a speaker, they will have the opportunity to demonstrate their enduring commitment to our Constitutional system of government. While a handful of extremists have precipitated a crisis of leadership, an equally small number of courageous and reasonable actors have the opportunity to exhibit bipartisanship and restore faith in ethical governance. As leaders and members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we ask all members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation, to find a pathway to the election of a speaker who has proven they will support the peaceful transfer of power. We are once again faced with…
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Official Statement on Idaho’s Open Primaries Initiative
Today the Idaho chapter of Mormon Women for Ethical Government joins the Idahoans for Open Primaries coalition in supporting representative government through free and open elections. This support is a manifestation of our commitment to peacemaking within our community and our determination to advocate for democratic processes wherein every voter can meaningfully participate. In 2011, after nearly a century of open primaries, the Idaho legislature adopted a closed primary law requiring voters to register with a party in order to vote in the primary election — the election of most consequence in Idaho. This change stripped more than a quarter of a million independent voters of their ability to cast…
