Adopted February 2011, Amended September 2017
Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (hereinafter “MDCDSA”) is a local chapter of the national organization Democratic Socialists of America.
Any member of the public who supports the mission of MDCDSA and who pays yearly membership dues to MDCDSA, as determined by the members, shall be a member. Members are entitled to participate in any MDCDSA committees.
Public meetings of the members shall be held on a regular basis, at least once a month, and at a regularly scheduled time and place, unless determined otherwise by the members. The meeting shall be run according to Robert’s Rules of Order and other procedures approved by the members, except that the chair shall make all reasonable efforts to reach a consensus of those members present at the meeting. If, in the opinion of the chair, a consensus is not possible, the chair may entertain a motion on the matter at hand. The motion shall be disposed of according to the rules of order, normally a majority vote; except that decisions on endorsements in election campaigns must be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.
The members shall determine any Dues, which shall be separate from dues paid to national Democratic Socialists of America.
Members of MDCDSA, at an annual membership meeting, shall elect members of the Steering Committee by secret ballot. The Steering Committee shall consist of Officers and at-large members. The officers shall include a Chair or Co-Chairs, a Treasurer, a Secretary and such other officers as the members may deem necessary. The number of at-large members of the Steering Committee shall be determined by the general membership. No person shall hold more than one office. Each officer and at-large Steering Committee member will serve a one-year term, the beginning and ending dates to be determined by the members. One half of the duly appointed members of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting business. The Steering Committee shall meet at least eight times a year at a time and place to be determined.
The Chair or Co-Chairs shall be the chief executive officer(s) of MDCDSA, and shall ensure that all orders and resolutions of the members and the Steering Committee are carried out. The Chair or a Co-Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Steering Committee and shall sign or countersign all certificates, contracts or other instruments of MDCDSA except where otherwise designated in these bylaws. The Chair or Co-Chairs shall perform such other duties as are incident to the office required of her or him by the Steering Committee.
The Treasurer shall, as directed by the Steering Committee, have care and custody of the general funds, securities, properties, and assets of the MDCDSA. The Treasurer shall ensure that the funds and securities shall be deposited in the banks(s), trust companies or depositories that the Steering Committee shall designate. At the direction of the Steering Committee, the Treasurer will ensure disbursement and disposal of the same, taking proper voucher for such disbursements. She or he shall ensure that accurate books of account are kept in accordance with commonly accepted accounting principles, recording therein the amount of all monies, funds, securities, properties and assets in his or her custody, wherever located, and showing the amount of disbursement made and the disposition of properties. He or she shall exhibit said books and records when required by the Steering Committee, Chair or Co-Chairs, or government agency of appropriate regulator jurisdiction pursuant to law. She or he shall prepare and present a yearly financial report for the annual meeting.
The Secretary shall ensure that the minutes are kept of the meetings of the Steering Committee and of the general membership and shall ensure that the minutes are distributed. The Secretary shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law. The Secretary shall be custodian of all MDCDSA records. The Secretary shall keep a register of the address, phone number and e-mail address of each member of the Steering Committee, which shall be furnished to the Secretary by each Steering Committee member. The Secretary shall, in general, perform the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as are from time to time assigned by the Chair, a Co-Chair or by the Steering Committee.
All vacancies of Officers or members of the Steering Committee, whether resulting from death, resignation or otherwise, shall be filled temporarily by the Steering Committee until the next annual membership meeting.
Any Officer or member of the Steering Committee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the members. Any Officer or member of the Steering Committee may resign in writing. An Officer may resign without ceding her or his place on the Steering Committee.
The number, duties, and functions of the committees, if any, shall be as determined by the members.
The Fiscal Year shall commence the first day of January in each year.
Members shall have the power to approve changes to the Bylaws. Any proposed changes to the Bylaws shall be announced to the members one meeting in advance of any vote. Changes may be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.
MDCDSA may be dissolved by motion approved by three-fifths of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall ensure that an appropriate agent is designated to complete the dissolution of the organization. Said agent shall ensure that all financial and legal issues are properly resolved.
To be eligible to vote as a delegate in the MDCDSA Local Convention, individuals shall be members of MDCDSA in good standing (as defined by the Temporary Local Convention Rules) on September 23, 2017, and remain such through the date of the convention.
All Resolutions and Bylaws Amendments passed at the Local Convention shall become binding requirements on MDCDSA on January 1, 2018. This language is not intended to preclude earlier implementation of these Amendments and Resolutions.