General

The World Affairs Councils of America and all its member council are registered non-profit (tax-exempt) organizations at the national and state levels.As a matter of longstanding policy, the national association and its member councils are non-partisan. 

Lobbying

The national association and its member councils take no positions on foreign policy issues and do not lobby Congress, the Executive Branch, or state and local governments. Neither the national association nor any of the member councils are affiliated with any political party. They do not participate in political campaigns in support of particular candidates or parties.  They do not donate money to political campaigns, candidates, or parties.

Speakers

The platforms of the council system are open to all points of view. The 2,500 speakers who speak before the council system each year hold a wide variety of political perspectives from the left to the center to right. Speakers are encouraged to speak their minds candidly.  Speakers are not required to be centrists or to be bland to speak before the council system. Councils seek to balance their offerings over the year balancing opinion from various points on the political spectrum.  There is no requirement for each speaker or each event be balanced between left and right points of view.

Members

The council system keeps no records of the party affiliations of its members.  At the same time, it is clear that there are a large number of Democrats, a large number of Republicans, and a large number of independents as members around the country.The council system encourages its members to speak out and to be active on foreign affairs and international issues.  They do so from their individual perspectives.