League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area

International Relations/Federal Government Committee

Anita Pilling, Chair 2024-2025

The last couple of years has produced some important changes in the focus of the International Committee. As we began to examine issues that were relevant to the United States federal system, particularly the judiciary, we realized we needed a name change; hence, the International Relations/Federal Government Committee. We decided on “federal government” since that term more accurately describes the United States government than “national.” Our Constitution provides for a federal system which allows for shared power between the national government and the states. Nevertheless, the committee did not neglect international relations. There were discussions on the People’s Republic of China, Netanyahu and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Modi and India, Orban’s autocratic rule of Hungary, and Putin’s transformation of Russia. We started an examination of Project 2025 in June and picked up the discussion again in September. Since the national LWV office is starting a study of the national judiciary, focusing on the Supreme Court, we will re-examine what we discussed last year.

One of the most significant developments starting this year is a more permanent location for our meetings. The Linden House at 1250 Branchlands has offered to let the committee use their facility free of charge. This is a welcomed situation since we often had trouble scheduling an adequate room at the Northside Library. It is a beautiful facility in a central location. Not only do we have a regular location to meet, but we also can schedule a regular day and time for the meetings. Currently that is the second Wednesday of each month from 10:00 to 12:00 am.

Anita Pilling, Director, contact her at anitapilling.ap@gmail.com