ARTICLE I. Name.

The name of the Chapter will be the San Marcos Democratic Socialists of America, also referred to as San Marcos DSA, SMDSA, or the San Marcos TX Local Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). DSA is a not-for-profit corporation.

ARTICLE II. Purpose.

The San Marcos TX Local Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America seeks to 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 an 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.

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.

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 liberties 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.

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. Our strategy acknowledges the class structure of the U.S. 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.

Members of the San Marcos TX Local Chapter of DSA will be those individuals whose dues to national DSA are paid in full, who reside and/or work in Hays, Guadalupe, Comal, and Caldwell counties area. Individuals may not be members of the Local Chapter without being members of national DSA. It will be the responsibility of members to approve policies and guidelines for the operation of the Local Chapter, to elect delegates to the national convention, to vote on matters related to national policy, and to make recommendations on issues and other matters to the National Political Committee of DSA.

A member may resign from the Local Chapter and national DSA by contacting DSA’s national office.

Section 2. Removal of Members.

If a member in good standing is found to be in substantial disagreement with the principles or policies of national DSA, or if they are found to be consistently engaging in undemocratic, 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 of DSA. 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 Executive 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. An expelled member in good standing may appeal to the National Political Committee of DSA.

If a complaint is filed against a member for sexual misconduct and/or a members presence in the chapter presents a safety hazard towards other members, the Executive Committee along with the local HGOs may decide to expel said member from the local chapter.

Section 3. Voluntary Donations.

As mandated by the national Constitution and Bylaws, the Local Chapter may establish a Local Chapter pledge system of voluntary donations for its members. The payment of a Local Chapter donation may not be a requirement for voting or for holding Local Chapter office.

Section 4. Privacy Concerns.

Care will be taken to protect the privacy of each member’s contact information. All members of the Executive Committee with access to personal information of members are prohibited from sharing that information or using it for any reason other than to conduct chapter business.

ARTICLE IV. Local Chapter Meetings.

Section 1. Local Convention.

The Local Chapter will hold a minimum of one (1) Local Convention annually for purposes of electing officers. All members of the Local Chapter will be sent notice of, and an agenda for, the Local Convention. Notice may be sent by electronic means, but individuals who have not provided an email address must be sent a paper copy or contacted by phone or text. The Local Convention will elect Local Chapter officers and may adopt an annual budget. In general, it is the highest legislative body of the Local Chapter. The Local Convention may coincide with a Regular Meeting.

Section 2. Regular Meetings.

The Local Chapter will hold Regular Meetings at least four (4) times annually, the time and place of which will be set in a schedule published and distributed by the Local Chapter Executive Committee. The Regular Meetings will set Local Chapter policy and work priorities, and they will include political education sessions.

The Local Chapter Executive Committee will set the agenda for Regular Meetings. In general, the Regular Meeting is the operating legislative body of the Local Chapter.

Section 3. Emergency Meetings.

The Local Chapter Executive Committee may call an Emergency Meeting of the Local Chapter on five (5) days’ notice when an urgent and important matter requires deliberation.

Section 4. Quorum.

A quorum of 10 percent of the members (but not fewer than six (6) persons) is required for Local Conventions, Regular, or Emergency Meetings to transact business.

ARTICLE V. Local Chapter Officers: Powers and Duties.

Section 1. Officers and Terms.

The officers of the Local Chapter will be two Co-Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Coordinator. The term of office will be one year and will run from May through April or until their successors are elected.

Co-chairs may not be of the same gender. The Executive Committee as a whole may not be more than 60% cis-male. An exception to this rule can be made if it is not possible to have a full Executive Committee while meeting this standard.

Section 2. Vacancies.

In the event of a vacancy in any Local Chapter office, the Local Chapter Executive Committee will appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term.

Section 3. Co-Chairs.

1. The Co-Chairs will be the chief executive officers of the Local Chapter. They will preside over Local Chapter and Executive Committee meetings or will appoint a substitute to assume the powers and duties of the presiding officer as specified in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised 11th Edition. 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.

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

3. The Co-Chairs will report to Local Chapter Regular Meetings on the business of the Executive Committee Meetings, at which time a copy of the minutes of those meetings will be available for inspection.

Section 4. Secretary.

1. The Secretary will be 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 will ensure effective communication with national DSA. They will temporarily assume the responsibilities of the Co-Chair, if neither Co-Chair is able to do so.

2. The Secretary will be 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 will include meeting minutes.

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 Local Convention of the Local Chapter, as well as periodic progress reports as requested by the Executive Committee of the Local Chapter.

Once a year, at the Local Convention, the chapter will vote to set monetary limits on individual transactions the Treasurer may make without approval of the Executive Committee, and without approval from the Local Chapter. These limits may be changed at a Regular Meeting.

Section 6. Membership Coordinator.

The Membership Coordinator will be responsible for keeping the roster, welcoming new members, and recruiting additional members.

Section 7. Additional Duties.

The Local Chapter Executive Committee may assign additional temporary duties to an officer of the Local Chapter, so long as such assignments do not conflict with the designation of responsibilities outlined in these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI. Executive Committee.

Section 1. Composition.

The Local Chapter Executive Committee will be composed of the five (5) officers of the Local Chapter and the chair(s) of any Local Chapter Branches.

Section 2. Duties.

1. The Executive Committee administers the affairs of the Local Chapter and oversees the implementation of the decisions of the Local Convention and Regular Meetings; it may also propose policy to the Local Convention and Regular Meetings. It will have the power to receive reports of any Committee or Branch, and advise thereon, to call Emergency Meetings of the Local Chapter, and to act on any matter that requires immediate and urgent action. The Executive Committee is the regular executive body of the Local Chapter, and thus subordinate to its Legislative bodies, the Local Convention and Regular Meetings.

2. The Local Chapter Executive Committee will be responsible for establishing program activities for the Local Chapter, for proposing guidelines and policies that will subsequently be voted on by members in good standing of DSA, and for acting on the organization’s behalf between Local Chapter meetings.

3. The Chapter Executive Committee shall coordinate the management of the social media communications of the chapter.

Section 3. Meetings.

The meetings of the Executive Committee will be held at the call of one (1) of the Co-Chairs at such intervals as may be determined by a prior Executive Committee Meeting or by consultation with any three (3) members of the Executive Committee. All members of the Executive Committee must (ordinarily) be given four (4) days oral, written, or electronic notice of regular Executive Committee Meetings; a 24-hour notice may be given under special emergency circumstances.

Section 4. Quorum.

A quorum of a simple majority, including at least three (3) of the five (5) officers, is required for the transaction of Executive Committee business.

ARTICLE VII. Branches.

Section 1. Definition.

A Branch is a subgroup of the Local Chapter consisting of at least five (5) members in good standing with national DSA. Branches may be defined by geography or language. The chairs of Branches will hold membership on the Local Chapter Executive Committee.

Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) chapters within the geographic area defined by a DSA Local Chapter may affiliate as a branch of that Local Chapter, in which case the local YDSA chapter may send a representative to the Local Chapter Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII. Committees.

Section 1. Committees.

Committees may be established by a simple majority vote of those present at a Regular Meeting or at the Local Convention. A resolution to establish a committee must explicitly include its duties and responsibilities. Committees will be for internal business of the Local Chapter that requires regular upkeep and maintenance, but is beyond the scope or capacity of the duties of the Executive Committee. Committees will be considered indefinite upon creation, and can be disbanded through simple majority vote of those present at a Regular Meeting or at the Local Convention.

Section 2. Working Groups.

Working Groups may be established by a simple majority vote of those present at a Regular Meeting or at the Local Convention. A resolution to establish a working group must explicitly include its duties and responsibilities, including concrete measures of success or failure. Working Groups will be for external campaigns and organizing work that requires long-term or indefinite upkeep and maintenance. Working Groups will be considered indefinite upon creation, and can be disbanded through simple majority vote of those present at Regular Meeting or at the Local Convention.

Section 3. Ad-Hoc.

An Ad-Hoc Committee or Working Group may be established by a simple majority vote of those present at a Regular Meeting or at the Local Convention. A resolution to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee or Working Group must explicitly include its duties and responsibilities (and in the case of an Ad-Hoc Working Group, including concrete measures of success or failure). The resolution must also establish a deadline after which the Ad-Hoc Committee or Working Group will automatically be disbanded. The deadline of an Ad-Hoc Committee or Working Group may be extended by a simple majority vote of those present at a Regular Meeting or at the Local Convention. An Ad-Hoc Committee or Working Group may be reorganized into an indefinite Committee or Working Group by a simple majority vote of those present at a Regular Meeting or at the Local Convention.

Section 4. Chairs.

At the Regular Meeting or Local Convention in which the Committee or Working Group was established, the membership must also nominate and elect a Chair. The Chair must receive one nomination from a member other than themselves and be seconded by any member (including themselves). The Chair will be elected through a simple majority. In the event that no candidate reaches a majority, a runoff of the top two candidates will be held. In the event that only one candidate stands, a yes or no vote will be held. The Chair of Committees will be invited to attend, but not vote in, meetings of the Executive Committee. In the resolution establishing the Committee or Working Group the author may include that the Chair of the Committee will automatically be one of the members of the Executive Committee; this should be used only when the Committee’s duties substantially overlap with that of a member of the Executive Committee. A member may only chair one committee at any given time, however they may be a member of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IX. Delegates to National, Regional, and State Bodies.

Section 1. Eligibility to Vote.

Local Chapter delegates and alternates to the National Convention, as well as to any regional or state organizations, will be elected by members in good standing of the Local Chapter of DSA.

Section 2. Schedule of Elections to National, Regional, or State Organizations.

Elections for the National Convention delegation will be held on the schedule announced by the national organization. Elections to regional or state organizations will be held on the schedule announced by those organizations.

Section 3. Method of Voting.

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, Local Chapters “may determine their own method of election of delegates to the Convention except that a petition from 10% of a Local’ Chapters membership or a motion supported by 15% of those present and voting at the Local 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.

San Marcos TX 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 Texas. 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. Nominations, Elections, and Recall.

Section 1. Nominations Committee.

By vote at a Regular Meeting, a three (3)-person Nominations Committee will be established at least one (1) month prior to every election. It will solicit and receive nominations for the positions to be elected.

Section 2. Nominations Process.

Nominations for Local Chapter officers and delegates to DSA meetings will be opened at least 10 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 San Marcos TX DSA as soon as nominations are open.

Section 3. Uncontested Positions.

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

Section 4. Recall.

Any officer of the Local Chapter of DSA may be recalled for malfeasance or failure to fulfill their duties or obligations as an officer. In order to recall or remove an officer, a member in good standing must formally refer a request to remove said officer to the Local Chapter Executive Committee, which will set a date of a Local Chapter meeting for deliberations on the accused officer’s removal. The officer in question must receive written documentation of the specific reasons for the removal request and notice of the meeting a minimum of two weeks before the meeting takes place. The accused officer will be given a chance to speak in their own defense at this meeting. Removal of an officer requires a two-thirds vote of the Local Chapter meeting.

ARTICLE XII. Amendments.

Proposed amendments to these Bylaws must be made by written resolution, endorsed by five (5) members of the Local Chapter of DSA and submitted to the Executive Committee at least one (1) month in advance of a Local Convention The Executive Committee is required to provide the Local Chapter membership with at least two (2) weeks’ written or electronic notice of the proposed amendments. The amendment must be approved by a vote of ⅔ of members voting on the amendment.

ARTICLE XIII. Rules of the Local Chapter.

Section 1. Rules.

The Rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised 11th Edition, will govern this Local Chapter in cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws. Consensus decision-making is desirable where feasible, but meetings must submit to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised 11th Edition upon the request of a member.

Section 2. Action Out of Order.

Any action taken by an officer or member of the Local Chapter in contravention of these Bylaws is null and void.

Section 3. Harassment Policy.

The Local Chapter will follow the Harassment Policy of national DSA

.

ARTICLE XIV. Distribution of assets.

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

ARTICLE XV. Resolutions and Motions.

Section 1. Resolutions.

In order to implement policies that substantially change the structure of the Local Chapter (but does not require amendment to the bylaws) or its activities a written Resolution is required. This includes the establishment of Committees and Working Groups, the creation of a priority campaign, the changing of rules and conduct for members or officers, or any other such changes that a written record is necessary. The Resolution must have one author and at least one sponsor from members in good standing. The Resolution must follow the format established by the Executive Committee. The Resolution must be submitted to the Executive Committee by a deadline set by the Executive Committee, though it may not be greater than 30 days. The Resolutions that are being voted on must be included in full in the meeting agenda. Resolutions may be amended, the rules for amendments will be established through Resolution. A resolution requires a simple majority to pass.

Section 2. Motions.

Simple votes that do not substantially change the structure or activities of the Local Chapter may be decided through a motion, moved and seconded by members in the meeting, and voted on through simple majority. This includes:

1. Setting dates and times for meetings, socials, or educational events.

2. Changing meeting rules or format (in accordance with Robert’s Rules).

3. Authorizing the use of discretionary funds for minor purchases.

4. And other such minor decisions in which a vote is required.

Section 3. Authority.

In the event that it is not clear whether a Resolution is needed or a Motion, the Executive Committee will decide through a vote. The vote of the Executive Committee may be overturned by 2/3rd vote of members through a Motion.

Section 4. Code.

The collection of all currently valid Resolutions will be known as the Code. It will be maintained by the Executive Committee and accessible by all members. The format and exact nature of the Code will be established through resolution.

Section 5. Repeal.

A Resolution that has been passed may be repealed or amended after it has been submitted into the Code through another Resolution. The Repeal or Amendment Resolution will not be submitted into the Code itself but simply modify or remove the Resolution it is targeting.