Bylaws of the Fort Collins CO Local Chapter
of Democratic Socialists of America
Adopted 09.07.2024
ARTICLE I. Name.
The name of the Chapter will be the Fort Collins CO Local Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and will be referred to as “DSA Fort Collins.” DSA is a not-for-profit corporation.
ARTICLE II. Purpose.
The Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins Local Chapter of DSA will be those individuals whose dues to national DSA are paid in full, who reside and/or work in the Larimer County 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 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. An expelled member in good standing may appeal to the National Political Committee of DSA.
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.
ARTICLE IV. Local Chapter Meetings.
Section 1. Local Convention.
The Local Chapter will hold a minimum of one (1) Local Convention annually, typically during the month of November, for purposes of electing officers. The Local Convention may coincide with a General Meeting. All members in good standing of the Local Chapter will be sent notice of, and an agenda for, the Local Convention. Notice must 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 will vote on the annual budget proposed by the Treasurer for the upcoming year. The Steering Committee will place the date and time of the next meeting on the calendar immediately upon the conclusion of the Local Convention. In general, the Local Convention is the highest legislative body of the Local Chapter.
Section 2. General Meetings.
The Local Chapter will hold General 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 Steering Committee. The General Meetings will set Local Chapter policy and work priorities, and they will include political education sessions.
After soliciting agenda items from the membership and from Committee chairs, the the Local Chapter Steering Committee will prepare and disseminate the agenda for General Meetings. A draft agenda for the General Meeting shall be shared with members in good standing at least 6 days prior to the General Meeting. The Steering Committee will place the date and time of the next General Meeting on the calendar immediately upon the conclusion of the General MeetingIn general, the General Meeting is the operating legislative body of the Local Chapter.
Section 3. Emergency Meetings.
The Local Chapter Steering 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 in good standing (but not fewer than six (6) persons) is required for General, Regular, or Emergency Meetings to transact business.
ARTICLE V. Local Chapter Officers: Powers and Duties.
Section 1. Officers and Terms Lengths.
The officers of the Local Chapter will be the Co-Chairs, Chairs of Standing Committees, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The term of office for each officer will be one year, and will run from January to the following January, or until their successors are elected. The officers may not all be of the same gender.
Section 2. Vacancies.
In the event of a vacancy in any Local Chapter office, the Local Chapter Steering Committee will open nominations to the position to all members in good standing within one (1) week of notification of the vacancy.
In the event of a vacancy in the position of Chapter Secretary or Chapter Treasurer, the Local Chapter Steering Committee may immediately appoint any member in good standing as an interim officer to the vacant position for up to two (2) months. An election for the position will be held during a Regular or General Meeting not less than two weeks and not more than two months after the Steering Committee is notified of the vacancy.
In the event of a vacancy in any Chair position, the Local Chapter Steering Committee will appoint a replacement from the nominations pool for the remainder of the term during a Steering Committee Meeting.
Section 3. Co-Chairs.
a. The Co-Chairs will be the chief executive officers of the Local Chapter. They will preside over Local Chapter and Steering 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.
b. 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.
c. The Co-Chairs will report to Local Chapter Regular Meetings on the business of the Steering Committee Meetings, at which time a copy of the minutes of those meetings will be available for inspection.
Section 4. Secretary.
a. 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.
b. The Secretary will be responsible also for the taking of minutes of all Local Chapter and Steering 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 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 Steering Committee of the Local Chapter.
Section 6. Additional Duties.
The Local Chapter Steering 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.
Section 7. Officer Independence from Elected Officials
- No member of DSA Fort Collins may serve as an officer while simultaneously serving as an elected official.
- This firewall between chapter officers and elected officials is intended to apply to those occupying positions on School Boards, City Councils, County Committees, State Legislatures, and all Federal Offices.
- This firewall is not intended to apply to precinct organizers, city and county advisory boards, party leadership, or other positions that do not wield legal power and are not regulated by campaign finance laws.
- Officers that intend to become elected officials must resign from their positions prior to filing to run
ARTICLE VI. Steering Committee.
Section 1. Composition.
The Local Chapter Steering Committee will be composed of the officers of the Local Chapter and the chair(s) of any Local Chapter Branches.
Section 2. Duties.
a. The Steering Committee administers the affairs of the Local Chapter and oversees the implementation of the decisions of the General and Regular Meetings; it may also propose policy to the General 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 Steering Committee is the regular executive body of the Local Chapter, and thus subordinate to its Legislative bodies, the General and Regular Meetings.
b. The Local Chapter Steering 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.
Section 3. Meetings.
The meetings of the Steering Committee will be held at the call of one (1) of the Co-Chairs at such intervals as may be determined by a prior Steering Committee Meeting or by consultation with any three (3) members of the Steering Committee. All members of the Steering Committee must (ordinarily) be given four (4) days oral, written, or electronic notice of regular Steering Committee Meetings; a 24-hour notice may be given under special emergency circumstances.
Section 4. Quorum.
A quorum of a simple majority, including a majority of the officers, is required for the transaction of Steering 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 Steering 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 Steering Committee.
ARTICLE VIII. Committees.
Section 1. Definition.
(a) Committees of the Local Chapter are formally established bodies organized for the realization of the Local Chapter’s strategies and tactics relevant to its long-term external and internal priorities.
(b) Committees may focus on any special topic which is deemed central to the Local Chapter’s mission and goals by the at-large membership of the Local Chapter.
Section 2. Committee Chairs.
Each Committee shall have one Chair elected by members in good standing at a General Meeting. Committee Chairs must be members in good standing of the Local Chapter.
Section 3. Membership.
Membership in a Committee is open to members in good standing of DSA Fort Collins. The Committee will establish guidelines for functioning and will review and update the guidelines at least yearly. The guidelines established by the Committee will be maintained by the Secretary.
Section 4. Duties.
Each Committee shall provide regular reports of progress, on activities general and specific, to the general membership and the Steering Committee during regular business meetings of the Local Chapter. Each Committee shall publish its agenda at least two days prior to its meeting, maintain minutes of its meetings, and publish its draft minutes no later than two days after its meeting.
Section 5. Formation of Committees.
A new Committee may form if three Local Chapter members in good standing present a resolution to the Steering Committee outlining the new Committee’s purpose and one of the members shall agree to serve as its chair. At that time, the creation of the Committee and the confirmation of its chair will be brought to a vote at the following Regular Meeting and may pass with a two-thirds majority.
Section 6. Dissolution of Committees.
A Committee which has ceased to function as defined in its constituting resolution may be dissolved by a majority vote in any Regular Meeting of the Local Chapter, of a resolution, originating from the Steering Committee of the Local Chapter, dissolving the defunct Committee.
Section 7. Active Committees.
An up-to-date list of active Committees will be maintained on the Local Chapter’s website.
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.
Fort Collins 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 Colorado. 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 Group.
By vote at a Regular Meeting, a three (3)-person Nominations Group 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 Fort Collins 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 Steering 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 Steering Committee at least one (1) month in advance of a General or Regular Meeting. The Steering 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 at least two-thirds majority vote of a Local Chapter meeting.
ARTICLE XIII. Resolutions.
Section 1. Types of Resolutions
Members of the Local Chapter may introduce a resolution to codify chapter goals and stances including, but not limited to, endorsements of candidates running for office in accordance with Article XI, approval of chapter publications, the formation of committees in accordance with Article VIII, and proposing amendments to the existing bylaws in accordance with Article XII.
Section 2. Purpose
Members of the Local Chapter may introduce a resolution to codify chapter goals and stances including but not limited to endorsements of candidates running for office, approval of chapter publications, form committees, and make amendments to the existing bylaws.
Section 3. Process
- The process for creating a resolution to form or dissolve a committee is located in Article VIII, Sections 5 and 6. The process for creating a resolution to amend the existing bylaws is found in Article XII. For other resolutions, the process is as follows.
- Written resolutions, endorsed by at minimum three (3) members in good standing, may be submitted to the Steering Committee two weeks prior to a General or Regular Meeting1 to be voted on by the Local Chapter.
- Written resolutions, discussed and approved by a committee, may be introduced during a General or Regular Meeting1 by that committee’s Chair to be voted on by the Local Chapter.
Section 4. Role of the Steering Committee
Resolutions that are proposed by the required number of members in good standing, that do not violate these bylaws or the bylaws of National DSA, and that are written in a manner the Committee finds comprehensible, shall be placed on the agenda for the next Regular, General, or Emergency Meeting that resolution was drafted for, and notice of a vote on the resolution, including the text of the resolution, shall be transmitted to the membership
ARTICLE XIV. 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 XV. Conflict Resolution
Any conflict between DSA Fort Collins members that affects the viability or effectiveness of our group, and cannot be resolved in good faith efforts, will be subject to mediation. A neutral member of DSA Fort Collins not involved in the conflict, and agreed upon by all parties involved, will first meet with each party separately. The mediator will then lead a conversation between the parties. Agreed upon resolutions will prioritize effective communication between involved parties. Personal reconciliation should not be a priority for mediation.
Should the initial mediation fail to produce an effective working relationship between parties, any Member in Good Standing may request group mediation to resolve the conflict, which will take place at the following Regular Meeting. The conflict will be described by the mediator, focusing on barriers to working relationships. Group members may then discuss solutions, which should focus on developing a professional, working relationship between those involved.
ARTICLE XVI. Distribution of assets.
Upon dissolution of the organization, any residual assets shall become property of the national organization of Democratic Socialists of America.
Bylaws of DSA Fort Collins, adopted 09.07.2024