Article I: Name
Democratic Socialists of America – Rio Grande Valley, is a local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, hereafter referred to as the local chapter or the DSA RGV. DSA is a not-for-profit corporation.
Article II: Purpose
The Democratic Socialists of America – Rio Grande Valley 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 RGV 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 RGV 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.
The Rio Grande Valley region of Texas is one of the poorest and over-policed parts of the country because of the continued exploitation of its residents’ labor, its natural resources, and its presence on the border. Whereas these should enrich its diverse population and provide for their basic needs, the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few has led to a lack of access to healthcare, reproductive services, education, safe housing, public transportation, and food security for too many of its residents.
Residents of the Rio Grande Valley are frequently the subject of the harassment and victimization that accompanies the militarized occupation of the Border. We have neither fair representation at the state level in Austin nor do we have effective leadership in Washington, DC. When compromises are made they are often inflicted upon many of our population specifically. Attacks on social programs to fund corporate cronyism disproportionately affect our region and its residents, an already scapegoated population of indigenous and indigent people. We must not allow the Rio Grande Valley to become a testing ground for the military and spy technology that has brought those illegal wars on Terror and Drugs back home. ICE and CBP must be stopped from continuing to deny innocent people their basic human rights and those who have conducted these inhumane campaigns must face persecution.
The unconscionable privatization of prisons and federal detention centers must not be allowed to revive slavery in the Twenty-First Century. The Rio Grande Valley must be protected from this predation and reject the blood money that such facilities offer in our backyards.
Regardless of whether we were witnessing first hand the exploits of the military industrial complex, we must continue to oppose the use of violence against innocent people all over the world. American foreign policy continues to scapegoat, exploit, and victimize people from other countries and destabilize other sovereign nations in the name of supposed security, liberty, and capitalism. Those merchants of death who profit in the trade of machines of war will live to see the world render them obsolete and left behind.
The Rio Grande Valley’s proximity to the border, the Gulf of Mexico, and its eponymous river allow for a truly unique and diverse environment that remains threatened by a predatory and exploitative Oil and Gas industry. This exploitation poisons residents and irreparably harms the environment. These industries must take into account the environment and population and aid in the transition to renewable and alternative energy, the benefits of which must be available to all and must not merely reinforce existing power structures.
Finally, the fights for the rights and protections of women, the LGBTQ community, and disabled must be redoubled as restrictions and persecutions of such individuals become more craven and insidious in the face of the very important and meaningful victories that have been made over the past decades.
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 DSA RGV will be those individuals whose dues to national DSA are paid in full and who reside and/or work in the Rio Grande Valley 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.
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.
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 a 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. General Meeting
The Local Chapter will hold a minimum of one (1) General Meeting annually for purposes of electing officers. All members of the Local Chapter will be sent notice of, and an agenda for, the General Meeting. 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 General Meeting will elect Local Chapter officers and may adopt an annual budget. In general, it is the highest legislative body of the Local Chapter. The General Meeting 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 General, Regular, or Emergency Meetings to transact business.
Article V: Local Officers: Powers and Duties
Section 1. Officers and Terms
The officers of the Local Chapter will be Co-Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, and Social Media Coordinator. The term of office will be one year, and will run from February through 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 Executive Committee will appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term.
Section 3. Co-Chairs
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.
The Co-Chairs will be responsible also for coordinating the day-to-day operations and political work of the Local Chapters Branches and Committees.
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
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.
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 and member lists.
Section 5. The 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. Social Media Coordinator
The Social Media Coordinator will be responsible for managing the social media communications of the Local Chapter.
Section 7. Harassment Grievance Officer
The HGO serves as a non-voting member of the Executive Committee. The HGO attends Executive Committee meetings but does not receive a vote on items presented at these meetings. The HGO also does not receive a vote on determinations of remedies and penalties associated with the grievance process. (amended by majority vote, June 2021)
Section 8. 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
The Executive 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 Executive Committee is the regular executive body of the Local Chapter, and thus subordinate to its Legislative bodies, the General and Regular Meetings.
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.
While elected executive leaders are expected to carry out their duties in a manner satisfactory to chapter membership, it is understood that circumstances in their professional or personal lives may occasionally disrupt their ability to do their jobs well. Whenever such circumstances arise, any elected leader may request a temporary reassignment of some or all of their duties to the other elected leaders. However, such reassignments may last for a period of no longer than one month, and require that the membership be informed of the change by written (electronic or physical) communication. This communication must include an indication that permission has been granted from the elected leader/s to whom the responsibilities are being reassigned. Equally, if at any time an elected leader determines that they will be unable to serve in their duties for a period longer than one month, they are required to step down from their position and rejoin the general membership. An emergency election must then be held at the next possible chapter meeting, to find a replacement member for the empty position. This election must follow the rules for chapter elections, under Article XI. (amended by majority vote, February 2021)
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. Duration
The local chapter will have Ad Hoc Committees, which will exist for a limited and explicit duration. Ad Hoc Committees may be established by a vote of members in good standing at a Regular Meeting of the Local Chapter
Section 2. Duties
Chairs of Ad Hoc Committees will keep the Local Executive Committee and the General and Regular Meetings of the Local Chapter informed on the activities of the 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 Chapter’s 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
DSA RGV 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. Elections, Nominations, and Recall
Section 1. Nominations Committee
A three (3)-person Nominations Committee will be established at least one (1) month prior to every election by vote of a Regular Meeting. It will solicit and receive nominations for the positions to be elected.
Section 2. Nominations Process
Nominations for Local Chapter officers and delegates to the National Convention 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 DSA RGV 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 General or Regular Meeting. 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 majority vote of two (2) consecutive (Regular or General) Local Chapter meetings.
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.
Rio Grande Valley DSA 