Chapter Bylaws

Bylaws of the Green Mountain Democratic Socialists of America

Adopted November 10th, 2024

Article I. Name.

The name of this association is the Green Mountain Democratic Socialists of America (herein the “Chapter”). It is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (herein “national DSA”). The Local Chapter is a not-for-profit corporation.

Section 2. Territory

The Chapter shall conduct activities in the Vermont counties of Grand Isle, Franklin, Chittenden, Lamoille, Addison, Rutland, Bennington, Essex, Orleans, Washington, Caledonia, Orange, and Windham within the territory defined by the charter granted by the national Democratic Socialists of America to the Green Mountain Local Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Article II. Purpose

The Green Mountain Local Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America seeks to agitate for and facilitate the transition to a truly democratic and socialist society, one in which the means/resources of production are democratically and socially controlled.

DSA rejects the capitalist economic order based solely on private profit, alienated labor, gross inequalities of wealth and power, discrimination based on race, gender or sexual orientation, and brutality and violence in defense of the status quo. The Local Chapter acknowledges that the primary division in society is between the workers and the owners of the means of production; and that profit is derived from the exploited labor of workers. Therefore, the Local Chapter will engage in class struggle on the side of workers in the workplace and unions, and all other projects.

DSA envisions a humane social order based on popular control of resources, production, and economic planning, equitable distribution, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships. We aim to build a movement which can replace capitalism, the current economic and social system based on class division and exploitation, with a new society based on consistent democracy, social ownership and solidarity – socialism.

Our conception of socialism is a profoundly democratic one. It is rooted in the belief that human beings should be free to develop to their fullest potential, that public policies should be determined not by wealth but by popular participation, and that individual rights should be carefully safeguarded. It is committed to a freedom of speech that does not recoil from dissent, to a freedom to organize independent trade unions, women’s groups, political parties, and other formations — recognizing these as essential bulwarks against the dangers of an intrusive state. It is committed to a freedom of religion that acknowledges the rights of those for whom spiritual concerns are central. Our organization exists to educate and organize socialists so we can transform the labor and social movements into a force capable of liberating the working class, and humanity, by overthrowing capitalism.

We are socialists because we are developing a concrete strategy for achieving that vision. In the present, we are building a visible socialist presence within the broad democratic Left. In the long run, we hope to build a majority movement capable of making democratic socialism a reality in the United States and the world. Our strategy acknowledges the class structure of American society. This class structure means that there is a basic conflict of interest between those sectors with enormous economic power and the vast majority of the population.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. Membership.

All members of DSA residing in the zip codes covered by Green Mountain DSA are members of the Local Chapter. Any person who ceases to be a member of DSA likewise ceases to be a member of the Local Chapter.

A member is in good standing only if their payment of dues is current. Only members in good standing are eligible to vote and to hold office in the organization.

Section 2. Resignation.

A member may resign from the Chapter to become an at-large member of DSA by written notice to the Chapter Secretary and National DSA. A member may resign from DSA by notifying the national office of DSA.

Section 3. Removal of Members

If a member is found to be in substantial disagreement with the principles or policies of DSA, or if they are found to be consistently engaging in undemocratic, or disruptive behavior, or if they are found to be under the discipline of any democratic centralist organization, the Local Chapter may vote to expel them from the Local Chapter. In order for such a finding to be made, another DSA member must formally prefer written charges against the member in question to the Local Chapter Steering Committee, which will set the date of a Local Chapter meeting for deliberations on the charges. The member in question must receive a copy of the written charges and notice of the meeting a minimum of two (2) weeks before that meeting takes place. Expulsion of a member requires a two-thirds vote of the Local Chapter meeting. Decisions on expulsion by either the Chapter or National Organization may be appealed to the National Convention.

Section 3. Privacy Concerns.

All members in a position of trust are obligated to maintain the privacy of members. The Steering Committee may require persons to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements before accessing any privileged information.

Article IV, Local Chapter Meetings.

Section 1. Chapter Convention

The Local Chapter will hold one (1) annual Chapter Convention. The Chapter Convention is the highest legislative body of the Local Chapter. At the Chapter Convention, members may propose and pass resolutions, amend these bylaws, set chapter priorities, elect Local Chapter officers, and adopt an annual budget. Chapter Conventions will be hybrid (in-person and virtual) meetings. Notice of annual Chapter Conventions will be made at least thirty (30) calendar days in advance.

Resolutions may be proposed outside chapter conventions by ten percent of members of the chapter, and shall be voted upon by members as an online, secret ballot.

Section 2. General Meetings

The Local Chapter will hold at least three (3) General Meetings every year. General Meetings may include political education, updates on chapter priority campaigns, and discussion and debate on relevant matters. General Meetings are open to the public. The chapter will make every effort to hold hybrid (in person and virtual) meetings. Notice for General Meetings will be made at least seven (7) days in advance.

Section 3. Branch Meetings.

Each Branch will hold at least six (6) Branch Meetings every year. Branches will be decided by Convention. Every effort will be made to hold Branch Meetings in person. The focus of Branch Meetings will be political education and relationship-building. Notice for Branch Meetings will be made seven (7) days in advance.

Section 4. Emergency Meetings.

The Executive Committee may call an Emergency Meeting on five (5) days’ notice when an urgent and important matter requires deliberation. An Emergency Meeting shall have the power to pass resolutions subject to the quorum requirements outlined in Section 6.

Section 5. Rules*

The Chapter may elect to adopt standing rules, which shall not be inconsistent with these bylaws, to administer the process and procedures of Chapter Meetings.

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all Chapter Meetings to which they apply. If Robert’s Rules are inconsistent with these bylaws or standing rules, then these bylaws or standing rules will apply.

Section 6. Quorum

A quorum of ten percent of members in good standing is required to take any vote unless stated otherwise in the bylaws. If a quorum is not present, votes may be taken by means of an online platform available for 48 hours. The full language of the proposal must be available to all voters.

Article V, Local Chapter Officers: Powers and Duties.

Section 1. Officers and Terms.

a. The officers of the Local Chapter will be as follows: as many Co-Chairs as there are Branches, one (1) Secretary, one (1) Treasurer, one (1) Membership Coordinator, and two (2) At-Large members. Each officer must be a member of the Chapter and be current in their dues at the time of election and throughout the duration of their term.

b. The term of office will be one (1) year and will run from the Annual Convention to the Annual Convention of the following year.

Section 2. Vacancies.

In the event of a vacancy in any Local Chapter office, the relevant position shall be filled by a person elected at a vote at the next Chapter General Meeting, provided that the Steering Committee may appoint a replacement ad interim for the remainder of the term until such a vote can be held.

Section 3. Co-Chairs

a. The Co-Chairs will be the chief executive officers of the Local Chapter. They will preside over all Local Chapter meetings and Conventions. The Co-Chairs will be the official public spokespersons for the Local Chapter and will initiate such actions and policies as the Local Chapter’s general welfare may demand. The Co-Chairs will be elected by the membership at-large but may not reside in the same Branch.

b. The Co-Chairs will also be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations and political work of the Local Chapter’s Committees and Commissions.

c. The Co-Chairs will report to Local Chapter General Meetings and the Convention on the business of the Steering Committee meetings, at which time a copy of the minutes of those meetings will be available for inspection.

d. Each Co-Chair shall function as the chair of their respective Branch.

Section 4. Secretary

a. The Secretary is responsible for answering all correspondence and queries of the Local Chapter and for maintaining an up-to-date membership list of the Local Chapter. They ensure effective communication with DSA. They will temporarily assume the responsibilities of the Co-Chairs if neither Co-Chair is able to do so.

b. The Secretary is responsible also for the taking of minutes of all Local Chapter and Executive Committee Meetings and will have custody of these minutes, and the resolutions, reports and other official records of the Local Chapter. They will transfer official records in good condition to their successor. Official records include meeting minutes and member lists.

Section 5. Treasurer

The Treasurer will be responsible for the funds and financial records of the Local Chapter. All funds collected by the Local Chapter will be turned over to the Treasurer, who will deposit them in a bank account under the name of the Local Chapter. In cooperation with the Secretary, the Treasurer will be responsible for ensuring that membership dues are paid up-to-date. The Treasurer will prepare the annual Local Chapter budget and deliver the Local Chapter financial report to the General Meeting of the Local Chapter, as well as periodic progress reports as requested by the Executive Committee of the Local Chapter.

Section 6. Membership Coordinator

The Membership Coordinator will be responsible for growing the membership and engaging the active members. The Membership Coordinator and membership committee will be responsible for coordinating onboarding events, membership outreach, and other tasks associated with growing and maintaining the chapter membership.

Section 7. At-Large Members

At-large Steering Committee Members are eligible to vote and take on additional duties not specified to another role or accept delegated tasks from another Officer that would otherwise fall under that Officer’s purview.

Section 8. Resignation.

Any officer of the Chapter may electronically or physically submit their resignation to either the Steering Committee or Chapter Meeting. Upon resignation, the Steering Committee shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term pursuant to Article V. Section 2.

Section 9. Suspension.

Any officer of the Chapter may be temporarily suspended for thirty (30) days at a Chapter Meeting as defined in Article IV. Any member may motion to recall and shall state with particularity the acts of malfeasance, nonfeasance, gross negligence, or undemocratic or uncomradely behavior comprising the grounds for removal and must be seconded. The Chapter Meeting may adopt such a motion by a two-thirds (⅔) vote.

Section 10. Recall

Any officer of the Chapter may be recalled for malfeasance or failure to fulfill their duties or obligations as an officer. A petition may be submitted for such a purpose containing the names and signatures of one-quarter of members in good standing, in which case a vote will be held at the next General Meeting or Chapter Convention on whether to recall the named officer or officers. If a majority of the votes cast thereon are in favor of the recall, their office becomes vacant.

Article VI. Steering Committee

Section 1. Composition

The Local Chapter Steering Committee will be comprised of the officers of the Local Chapter. Committee chairs and the chairs of the youth section of DSA may serve as non-voting members of the Steering Committee.

Section 2. Duties

The Steering Committee administers the affairs of the Local Chapter and oversees the implementation of the decisions of the Local Convention and General Meetings. It may also propose policies to the Local Convention. It receives reports from the committees and commissions and will issue advice thereto. The Steering Committee is subordinate to the Chapter Convention and General Meeting. The Steering Committee will have the authority to form ad-hoc working groups to address urgent political issues. These ad-hoc working groups will be subject to the same rules as Committees as outlined in Article VII.

Section 3. Meetings

Steering Committee meetings will be held at least six (6) times per year and/or at the call of the Co-Chairs. The Steering Committee is a deliberative body and will aim to make decisions by consensus, but if a consensus is not possible a majority vote is sufficient. Steering Committee meetings are open to DSA members in good standing, except that the Steering Committee may vote to go into executive session to discuss issues of a sensitive nature. The proceedings of the Steering Committee in executive session are confidential.

Section 4. Quorum

A quorum for the Steering Committee is a simple majority of officers.

Article VII. Committees

Section 1. Committee Formation

Committees will be created by the Local Chapter membership to serve specific organizing functions. Committees will be established by a resolution passed at a Local Chapter Convention. Such resolutions must include the goals of the Committee, measures by which to judge its success, and the signatures of at least five (5) members in good standing willing to serve on the Committee. Committees are time-limited and must seek annual reauthorization by the Local Chapter membership at Convention. In the absence of such reauthorization, the Committee will be dissolved twelve (12) months following the Convention at which the Committee was established, or sooner for Committees with shorter timelines.

Section 2. Committee Chairs

a. Committee chairs will serve as liaisons to the Steering Committee and will inform the Steering Committee of their activities. They shall sit as members of the Steering Committee but shall have no vote, unless they are otherwise an officer of the chapter. Each Committee is required to have a Chair.

b. The membership will elect a Committee chair at the Annual Chapter Convention. The chair will direct the activities of the Committee and schedule its meetings. In the case of a vacancy, the Steering Committee will appoint an interim Committee chair, who will serve until a vote at the following General Meeting.

c. The term of a Committee Chair will be the duration of the Committee’s charge not to exceed one (1) year.

d. Committee Chairs may be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Steering Committee.

Section 3. Committee Meetings

Committees will meet as often as is necessary to complete their charge or at the discretion of the Committee Chair.

Article VIII. Branches

Section 1. Branch Formation

Chapter Branches will be organized geographically. There will be at least two (2) Branches: East and West. West Branch will include Grand Isle, Franklin, Chittenden, Lamoille, Addison, Rutland, and Bennington counties. East Branch will include Essex, Orleans, Washington, Caledonia, Orange, and Windham counties. Additional Branches may be created by the General Membership at an Annual Chapter Convention.

Section 2. Branch Chairs

Each Branch will have one (1) Chair. The Chapter Co-Chairs will preside as Chair of their respective Branch. It will be the responsibility of the Branch Chair to schedule and facilitate Branch meetings.

Section 3. Branch Meetings

Each Branch will hold at least six (6) Branch Meetings every year. Every effort will be made to hold Branch Meetings in person. The focus of Branch Meetings will be political education and relationship-building. Notice for Branch Meetings will be made seven (7) days in advance. Branches may plan events and actions that align with Chapter priorities and resolutions, but will have no authority to pass resolutions or amend these bylaws.

Article IX. Branch, National, and Other Delegates

Local Chapter delegates and alternates who are members in good standing to the National Convention, as well as to any Branchal, Regional or State organizations, will be elected by members who are also in good standing of the Local Chapter of DSA. Elections for the National Convention delegation will be held on the schedule announced by the national organization. Elections to Branchal or state organizations will be held on the schedule announced by those organizations.

Following Article V, Section 5 of National DSA’s Constitution, delegates to the National Convention must be elected by secret ballot. And, “No election for delegates to the National Convention shall be held more than four months, or less than forty-five days, prior to the opening of the National Convention. No election for delegates shall be conducted before the apportionment of delegates.”

Following Article VI, Section 3, of National DSA’s Bylaws, Chapters “may determine their own method of election of delegates to the Convention except that a petition from 10% of a Chapter’s membership or a motion supported by 15% of those present and voting at the Chapter meeting which determines the method of election will require the use of the Hare system in that Local’s election of delegates to the National Convention.”

Article X. Prohibited Activity

The Green Mountain VT Local Chapter will not engage in activity prohibited by the IRS guidelines established for 501(c)(4) organizations or similar rules established by the state of Vermont. Nor will the Local Chapter engage in any activity prohibited by resolutions adopted by DSA’s National Convention or DSA’s National Political Committee.

Article XI. Grievance Procedure

It is the duty of the Steering Committee to create a safe and welcoming culture that prioritizes those who face sexism, racism, and other forms of discrimination under capitalism. Members shall not engage in harassment or abuse of other members for any reason.

Harassing or abusive behavior may include, but is not limited to, unwelcome attention; inappropriate or offensive remarks, slurs, or jokes; physical or verbal intimidation; stalking; inappropriate physical contact or proximity; and other verbal and physical conduct constituting harassment, including when such conduct has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile environment interfering with an individual’s capacity to organize within DSA, as defined in the DSA Harassment Policy.

Disputes between members may be mediated by members of the Steering Committee or by neutral parties selected by the Steering Committee who shall be approved of by all parties of the dispute. All such mediations shall be kept confidential. Mediation within the Local Chapter shall follow the procedures put forward in the Peer Mediation procedure adopted by the Local Chapter.

A complainant’s decision to pursue mediation does not preclude the complainant from later filing a formal grievance. Complainants may request mediation by emailing hello@greenmountaindsa.org.

Formal grievances and grievance investigations shall be handled by the chapter wide Grievance Officer(s). Grievance Officer(s) shall be appointed by the Steering Committee.

If a member of the Local Chapter has an outstanding grievance against them, the complainant may request to the Grievance Committee that the member be temporarily barred from all Local Chapter events. The Grievance Officer would then recommend the member’s removal from Local Chapter events to the Steering Committee until the grievance is resolved, without disclosing the private information of either party or the nature of the grievance. The Steering Committee will vote on the recommendation of the Grievance Officer. A decision to remove a member from Local Chapter events will require a simple majority vote of the Steering Committee. The Local Chapter will follow the Harassment Policy of national DSA.

Article XII. Elections and Nominations

Section 1. Nominations Committee

A three (3) person Nominations Committee will be established at least one (1) month prior to every Local Chapter Convention at which an election is to be held. It will solicit and receive nominations for the positions to be elected. Committee members may not be candidates for offices for which they are responsible for soliciting and receiving nominations.

Section 2. Nominations Process

Nominations for Local Chapter officers and delegates to the National Convention will be opened at least 30 days before and closed at the meeting at which elections take place. The call for nominations will be announced to all members in good standing of Green Mountain DSA as soon as nominations are open.

Section 3. Uncontested Positions

If a position is uncontested, the nominee may be declared elected by acclamation.

Article XIII. Endorsements

Section 1. Definitions

The Local Chapter may endorse people for political office. The Local Chapter will be responsible for expending time and resources to aid candidates which it endorsed who are contesting competitive elections. An endorsement is not the same as a recommendation to vote for a candidate on a voter guide.

Section 2. Purpose

The purpose of endorsing candidates for political office is to assist the socialist movement, grow DSA and the Local Chapter, propagate class struggle, and attain political power for working people as a class.

Section 3. Qualifications

The Local Chapter may not endorse any person for office who the Chapter is prohibited from endorsing by national DSA for any reason. No body, including Committees and Branches, may endorse candidates not endorsed by the Chapter.

Section 4. Recommendations

The Local Chapter may create an internal process for recommending candidates for endorsement to the members. In the absence of such a process, recommendations may be made by the Steering Committee.

Section 5. Process

No person may be endorsed by the Local Chapter except by a majority vote of the members. A candidate recommended for endorsement will be submitted to the members at a Chapter Convention or General Meeting. Such a candidate has the right to speak before the members assembled. Endorsements by the Chapter will be public information.

Section 6. Issue Campaigns

The Chapter may endorse issue campaigns and ballot measures by the same process as political candidates.

Article XIV. Amendments

Amendments to the text of these bylaws may be proposed at Chapter Conventions and adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of members present at the meeting, provided that at least seven (7) days’ notice has been granted to the members of the Chapter.

For General Meetings, a petition signed by no fewer than ten (10) percent of members in good standing is required for proposed amendments to the text of these bylaws. Amendments proposed at General Meetings must be adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of members present at the meeting, provided that at least seven (7) days’ notice has been granted to the members of the Chapter.

Article XV. Chapter Dissolution

A proposal to dissolve the Chapter must be made by written resolution, endorsed by five (5) members in good standing of the Chapter, and submitted to the Steering Committee at least twenty-one (21) days in advance of a Chapter Meeting as defined in Article IV. The Steering Committee is required to provide the Chapter membership with at least ten (10) days physical or electronic notice of this resolution. The Chapter Meeting may adopt a resolution to dissolve the Chapter under this article by a two-thirds (⅔) vote.

Upon dissolution of the Chapter, any residual assets shall become property of the national organization of Democratic Socialists of America.