Constitution and Bylaws Changes

Democratize DSA 2023

Authors: Sam L., New York City & Renée P., East Bay
Companion Resolution

Article III. Members

Section 4.

Members may be expelled by either the National or Local organization. For a member to be expelled nationally, a two-thirds vote of the National Political Committee Steering Committee shall be necessary. Criteria for expulsion are prescribed in the Bylaws. Decisions on expulsion to expel a member by either the Local or National Organization may be appealed to the National Political Committee or National Convention.

Article VIII. National Political Committee

Section 1.

The National Political Committee (NPC) shall be the collective leadership and the highest decision-making body of the organization between meetings of the Convention. It shall meet at least four times a year.

Section 2.

The members of the NPC shall be one three representatives of the Youth Section and 1648 delegates elected at the national convention. Of the elected members, no more than eight twenty-five shall be men and at least fiveseventeen shall be racial or national minority members of DSA. In the event that these minority positions are not filled at the Convention, the position(s) shall be filled by the NPC, except that only minority members of DSA may be elected to fill such vacancies. In case of other such vacancies, except a vacancy of the Youth Section Representative, the NPC shall appoint a member of the organization in good standing to serve until the next Convention. No person shall serve simultaneously on the National Staff and the NPC.

Section 3.

The National Political Committee shall elect a Steering Committee (SC) and may remove members of the SC or elect a new SC for any reason. It shall be constituted as follows:

It shall be composed of the five thirteen people who shall be elected by the NPC from among its at-large members, and the including at least one Youth Section representative to the NPC. It shall include no more than three seven men and at least three people one person of color. The National Director and the Youth Section Organizer shall be ex officio members, without vote, of the SC.
The SC shall be responsible for decision-making between meetings of the NPC and for the supervision of all offices and staff of the organization. It shall be responsible for planning meetings and agendas for the NPC and for coordinating the work of the committees of the NPC.
A quorum of the SC shall be half of its voting members. It shall meet at least bimonthly, in person or by conference call.
In person meetings of the SC shall be open to all members of the organization. However, the SC may hold executive sessions if 60% of its members vote to do so in order to discuss personnel and related financial matter.

Section 4.

The at-large members of the NPC shall act as liaisons to the Commissions and the Regional, State and Local organizations as prescribed by the Bylaws. The NPC shall have responsibility for staff, finances, publications, and education.

Section 5.

A quorum of the NPC shall be more than half of its members. The NPC shall assume office immediately upon its election to serve a two-year term or until its successors are elected.

Section 6.

Meetings of the NPC shall be open to all members of the organization. However, the NPC may hold executive sessions if 60% of its members vote to do so in order to discuss personnel and related financial matters.

Section 7.

An NPC member may be removed for malfeasance or nonfeasance by a two-thirds vote of the NPC, with nonfeasance defined to include unexcused absences from two or more consecutive meetings.

Section 8.

The NPC SC shall be responsible for hiring and discharging staff as necessary.

Article IX. Staff

Section 1.

The NPCSC shall hire no more than two National Directors, who shall be responsible for the functioning of the National Office(s) and staff, shall report on staff activities to the National Convention and shall have specific duties as prescribed by the NPC. An announcement of any open directorship shall be published. Application shall be made to a Personnel Committee of the NPC. This committee shall make 

Section 3.

The NPC SC shall be able to discharge any staff person for nonfeasance or malfeasance of office with proper notice as provided for in any contract

Convention-Elected Full-Time Co-Chairs

Author: Oren S., New York City

Companion Resolution

Constitution

Article VI. Officers and Staff

Section 1.

The officers of this organization shall be the Co-Chairs, directors, the Secretary-Treasurer, the directors, and the other members of the Steering Committee of the NPC. There shall be one or two directors who shall be full time staff members as defined in Article IX of the DSA Bylaws. All of these officers shall perform the duties prescribed by this Constitution, the Bylaws and the standing rules.

Section 2.

The Director(s) shall be hired by the NPC according to the procedures set out in the DSA Bylaws. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected annually by a majority of the NPC and shall serve until a successor has been chosen.

Section 3. 

Any member of the organization is eligible to hold any office.

Section 4.

The duties of the officers shall include the following:

The Director(s) shall be members of the full-time staff and shall be the official spokesperson(s) of the organization.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall present a detailed financial report at the first plenary session on the first full day of each Convention and perform such duties as outlined in the Bylaws and prescribed by the NPC.

Section 5.

Any officer may be recalled for nonfeasance or malfeasance by a two-thirds vote of all members of the NPC voting in person or by proxy.

Section 6.

A National Chair or tTwo National Co-Chairs shall may be elected by the National Convention to serve for two-year terms or until a successor is elected. The National Co-Chairs will be full-time, paid positions. The term shall begin at the close of the National Convention at which they are elected. To be nominated or to be elected, a candidate for National Chair or Co-Chair must be a member in good standing of DSA for at least one year prior to the National Convention where the election takes place. The National Chairs(s) shall be the official and primary spokesperson(s) for the organization, reporting directly to the National Political Committee. The National Co- Chairs shall also be responsible for coordinating the administration and policy of the DSA as directed by the NPC. Following the National Convention where this Section is adopted or if the position of National Chair or Co-Chair becomes vacant between conventions, a National Chair or Co-Chairs may be selected by a 2/3 vote of the National Political Committee.

Article VIII. National Political Committee

Section 1.

The National Political Committee (NPC) shall be the collective leadership and the highest decision-making body of the organization between meetings of the Convention. It shall meet at least four times a year. One of the National Co-Chairs of the DSA shall chair the meetings of the NPC.

Section 2.

The members of the NPC shall be one representative of the Youth Section, the Co- Chairs, and 14 16 delegates elected at the national convention. Of the elected members, no more than eight shall be men and at least five shall be racial or national minority members of DSA. In the event that these minority positions are not filled at the Convention, the position(s) shall be filled by the NPC, except that only minority members of DSA may be elected to fill such vacancies. In case of other such vacancies, except a vacancy of the Youth Section Representative, the NPC shall appoint a member of the organization in good standing to serve until the next Convention. No person shall serve simultaneously on the National Staff and the NPC.

Section 3.
The National Political Committee shall elect a Steering Committee (SC). It shall be constituted as follows:

It shall be composed of the Co-Chairs, three five people who shall be elected by the NPC from among its at-large members, and the Youth Section representative to the NPC. It shall include no more than three men and at least one person of color. The National Director and the Youth Section Organizer shall be ex officio members, without vote, of the SC.

The SC shall be responsible for decision-making between meetings of the NPC and for the supervision of all offices and staff of the organization. It shall be responsible for planning meetings and agendas for the NPC and for coordinating the work of the committees of the NPC.

A quorum of the SC shall be half of its voting members. It shall meet at least bimonthly, in person or by conference call.

In person meetings of the SC shall be open to all members of the organization. However, the SC may hold executive sessions if 60% of its members vote to do so in order to discuss personnel and related financial matters.

The meetings of the SC shall be chaired by one of the National Co-Chairs of the DSA.

Bylaws

Article VII. Officers

Section 1.

In their capacity as the primary spokespeople of the organization, the National Co- Chairs shall serve as a point of contact between the national organization and elected officials, labor unions, and other political organizations. They shall also communicate the goals, activities, and perspectives of the organization with the press and the public. The Co-Chairs shall also coordinate the work of the staff, national committees, and local chapters of the organization in order to carry out the organization’s political priorities. They shall also work directly with the National Director and the staff of the organization to ensure that the directives of the National Convention and the NPC are being carried out. The National Co-Chairs shall report to the NPC and its steering committee and follow their directives. The NPC may assign additional duties to the National Co-Chairs as it sees fit.

Section 1. 2.

Any member in good standing may run for National Co-Chair and must be nominated by a chapter or national committee. The National Political Committee may nominate candidates for National Chair or National Co-Chair. Candidates may also be nominated by petition of at least three locals. Written notice of nominations for National Chair or National Co-Chairs must get to the membership at least one month prior to the National Convention where the election takes place. Elections for National Co-Chair will occur before at-large NPC elections. Candidates for National Co-Chair may run for at-large NPC positions if they are not elected as Co-Chair.

Section 2. 3.

In addition to duties described in the Constitution, one of the officers of the organization shall preside as temporary chair at the National Convention and NPC meetings until permanent chairs are chosen. One of the officers shall represent the organization at meetings of other organizations. Additional duties may be prescribed by the NPC.

Section 4.

The compensation of the National Co-Chairs and any other financially compensated members of the NPC, shall be decided by National Convention.

Article X. National Political Committee

Section 4.

The NPC may appoint committees to supervise specific work; these shall report to the NPC. They will include:

A Finance and Budget Committee which will regularly review with the Director(s) the financial situation of the organization. It will prepare an annual budget; such preparation may be delegated to staff persons in consultation with the chair of the committee. It will direct a fund-raising program. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve as a member or an ex officio member of the committee. One of the National Co-Chairs shall serve as a member of the committee.

A Personnel Committee which will periodically review staff performance, and fulfill other responsibilities assigned by the NPC. The National Co-Chairs shall serve as members of the committee.

Editorial Boards for the general publications of the organization which will supervise and edit these publications.

At the first meeting following their appointment, NPC committees shall elect from among their number a chair who shall be responsible for the organization of the committee, that is, for calling meetings, for notifying members of the meetings, for preparing agendas, for producing and distributing minutes to members, and for informing the NPC of the committee’s work.

Section 6.

Election of National Co-Chairs and at-large members of the NPC shall take place at the National Convention under procedures set forth by the Nominating/Personnel Committee except that preferential voting will be used to elect National Co-Chairs and at-large members of the NPC. Elections for National Co-Chair will occur before at-large NPC elections. Candidates for National Co-Chair may run for at-large NPC positions if they are not elected as Co-Chair.

Strengthening Democracy by Increasing Member Input and Creating a National Delegates Council

Authors: Ramy K., Seattle, Connell H., River Valley, Wallace M., Portland, & Joseph P., New York City

Rationale:

1. The National Convention is the highest decision-making body of DSA, and the NPC is currently the highest decision-making body between conventions every two years. Since the DSA Constitution was adopted establishing these structures the organization has changed dramatically, growing from 6,000 members to 90,000. This places much greater responsibilities on the NPC to build a cohesive and powerful organization.
2. Since DSA’s rapid growth the NPC has continually struggled with being able to effectively lead such a large and diverse organization. The impact of the national organization on the life of chapters (in our constitution: “locals”) has often been very limited. This has contributed to a lack of cohesion and disorganization within DSA. Too often best practices are not spread, and too often campaigns and political discussion are siloed in separate chapters.
3. An organization the size of DSA, with 200+ chapters, needs a larger national body to meet in between conventions. Such a body will facilitate more national cohesion politically and organizationally. It would provide a valuable tool to support the NPC by allowing the NPC to ask for support and get feedback. It would also empower the NPC to be able to bring important issues and initiatives to a larger body, which could discuss and alter them and then bring them directly back to their chapters.
4. The lack of a larger national leadership body also means that there is no democratic membership check on the NPC outside the national conventions every two years. More tools in the hands of our tens of thousands of members are needed to democratically control the course of our organization on a national level.
5. It appears too often that the fate of decisions made by convention may depend on having sympathetic NPC members and staff support afterwards. Across DSA’s political spectrum there has been ongoing frustration with DSA at the national level that could be remedied with a method for NPC oversight between conventions.
6. It is technically possible to call a special convention but the requirements are high in an organization that suddenly gained thousands of members, many of whom are not active on a daily basis. A special convention as the only check is not ideal since it is only reactive in case of dramatic events. This does not give the opportunity for the NPC to get feedback on a regular basis and guarantee a democratic check on the NPC that allows DSA’s membership to be in charge of DSA’s politics.
7. As we have seen over the past two years, the NPC deciding how to fill its vacancies can be controversial and prone to gridlock. On a committee of this size small changes can dramatically swing the balance of votes, the NPC should not be selecting its own members. A larger representative national body that meets regularly would be far better for choosing who should fill vacancies on the NPC.
8. This proposal for a National Delegates Council provides a method for membership to have a say on NPC decisions and NPC membership during a term without calling a special convention, and would help the NPC to get support with work and bring its proposals to chapters. It is smaller than the full National Convention to make it more manageable to administer between conventions. DSA must have democratic control by members that extends beyond once every two years.

Amendments to the Constitution

Article VIII. National Political Committee

Section 2:

The members of the NPC shall be one representative of the Youth Section and 16 delegates elected at the national convention. Of the elected members, no more than eight shall be men and at least five shall be racial or national minority members of DSA. In the event that these minority positions are not filled at the Convention, the position(s) shall be filled by the NPC, except that only minority members of DSA may be elected to fill such vacancies. In case of other such vacancies, except a vacancy of the Youth Section Representative, the NPC shall appoint a member of the organization in good standing to serve until the next Convention. No person shall serve simultaneously on the National Staff and the NPC.

Article IX: National Advisory Committee National Delegates Council

Section 1.

Members of the National Advisory Committee shall be available to consult with the NPC and the officers of the organization. It shall, however, have no decision- making authority.

The National Delegates Council shall debate and vote on political and organizational questions between conventions, and provide oversight to the National Political Committee.

Section 2.

Members of the National Advisory Committee shall be chosen by the NPC and must be members of the Democratic Socialists of America. In electing members to the NAC, the NPC shall act so as to ensure fair representation of women, genderqueers, and minorities.

The National Delegates Council shall be composed of delegates of the Locals and of at-large members.

Delegates to the National Delegates Council shall be elected for a calendar year based on the dues-paying membership of the organization (including all members up to one year arrears in dues) on December 1st of the previous year.

Every Local can elect at least one delegate. Locals with 300 or more members can elect a 2nd delegate; Locals with 600 members or more can elect a 3rd delegate; additional delegates will be apportioned to Locals for every 300 additional members.

At the beginning of the calendar year, the NPC will organize an election of delegates for the members at-large. For every full 300 at-large members on December 1st, the at-large members can elect 1 delegate.

Section 3.

The NPC (or its assigned representative) will inform each Local no later than January 1st each year about the Locals’s number of dues-paying members as of December 1st (including all members up to one year arrears in dues) and how many delegates to the National Delegates Council each Local can elect that calendar year.

Section 4.

Locals shall conduct their own elections for delegates and the NPC shall conduct elections for at- large delegates at the beginning of every calendar year.

In case of resignations or other vacancies of delegate positions, Locals can fill vacancies by elections of delegates for the remainder of the calendar year.

Section 5.

The National Delegates Council will meet online at least once every six months between National Conventions.

Meetings of the National Delegates Council will be convened and organized by the National Political Committee (or a body charged with this task by the NPC).

Special meetings of the National Delegates Council may be called by a majority vote of the National Political Committee or petition endorsed by either:

• Locals representing one third of the membership, or
• by signatures of five percent of the membership.

Once the threshold is met, the NPC has to organize a special meeting of the National Delegates Council, to take place within 60 days.

Section 6.

The National Delegates Council has the power to recall NPC members. NPC members shall be removed from their position if at least three-fifths of the delegates present vote in favor of the recall.

Section 7. 

In the event that positions on the NPC reserved for minorities and oppressed groups in Article VIII, Section 2, are not filled at the Convention, the position(s) shall be filled by vote of the National Delegates Council, except that only members of those oppressed groups may be elected to fill such vacancies. In case of other such vacancies (for example through resignation, disciplinary action, or recalls), except a vacancy of the Youth Section Representative, the National Delegates Council shall appoint a member of the organization in good standing to serve until the next Convention. Appointments to the NPC have to make sure that no person shall serve simultaneously on the National Staff and the NPC.

Section 8.

The National Delegates Council shall have the power to review and reverse decisions of the NPC, by a majority vote (more than 50 percent) of the delegates present. When disagreements arise between the NPC and the National Delegates Council, the National Delegates Council trumps the NPC.

Section 9.

Quorum of the National Delegates Council shall be more than half of the elected delegates.

Section 10.

The first National Delegates Council elections will be held at the beginning of 2024, and the NPC will convene the first National Delegates Council meeting no later than April 2024.