Bylaws

[As Amended March 2, 2024]

ARTICLE I    NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Boston Democratic Socialists of America (“the Local”, “the Chapter”, or “Boston DSA”). The organization is a chartered local of the Democratic Socialists of America, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation.

ARTICLE II    PURPOSE

The Boston Democratic Socialists of America is a socialist organization. We reject capitalism: a coercive economic order based on private profit over community good, alienated labor that deprives us of freedom and dignity, and gross inequalities of wealth and power that enable abuse and exploitation in every realm of our lives. We believe capitalism is inextricably linked to discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, age, religion, and national origin and that it is maintained by brutality in defense of the status quo at home and imperialist violence and exploitation abroad.

As socialists, we share a vision of a humane social order based on popular control of resources and production, economic planning, equitable distribution, feminism, racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships. Our vision of socialism is intersectional: it is rooted in the belief that only the abolition of all exploitation and oppression can free human beings to develop to their fullest potential and realize a truly democratic society. Only by fighting for liberation against all forms of systemic oppression is socialism possible.

In the Democratic Socialists of America, we are developing a concrete strategy to achieve that vision by building a mass movement that will abolish capitalism and make socialism a reality both in the U.S. and worldwide. Such a strategy must acknowledge the class structure of our society, that there is an irreconcilable conflict between the interests of workers and capitalists which can only be overcome through a transformation of society led by working people. As members of the Boston Democratic Socialists of America, we intend to further develop our vision and enact it through our local organizing across the Greater Boston area.

ARTICLE III    MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:  Local Membership Defined

All national members in good standing of the Democratic Socialists of America who reside and/or work in the Greater Boston area shall be members of the Boston Democratic Socialists of America. In order to be in good standing with national DSA, a member must meet the requirements set down in the national Constitution and Bylaws: they must state their agreement with the principles of the organization in an application for membership and must pay their annual national dues after this application has been accepted.

Section 2:  Removal of Members

If a member 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 direction of or under the discipline of any organization external to DSA which seeks to influence the internal policies or political decisions of DSA, the Local may vote to expel them from DSA. In order for such a finding to be made, another DSA member must formally proffer written charges against the member in question to the Coordinating Committee, which shall set the date of a Local 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 weeks before that meeting takes place. Expulsion of a member requires a two-thirds vote of the Local meeting. An expelled member may appeal to the National Political Committee of DSA.

Section 3:  Disclosure

Any member must disclose their employment or political affiliation with law enforcement or any organization that seeks to directly uphold or defend the carceral state. The local membership should be informed if any person currently employed as a law enforcement officer is in attendance at any meeting of the local membership, committee, working group, Coordinating Committee, or any other officially recognized group within the local.

Section 4:  Dues

The Local may establish local membership dues by vote at an Annual Meeting, a Regular Meeting, or an Emergency Meeting. The membership may also decide to make payment of local dues a prerequisite for voting on local questions and standing for local office at an Annual Meeting, Regular Meeting, or Emergency Meeting, but all DSA members shall have a vote on national questions and be eligible to stand for national office irrespective of local status.

Section 5:  Pledge Plan

The Local may establish a Local pledge system of voluntary donations for its members.

ARTICLE IV     LOCAL MEETINGS

Section 1:  Annual Meeting

The Local shall hold one Annual Meeting each year, the date, time and place of which shall be established by the Coordinating Committee. All members of the Local will receive three weeks written or electronic mail notice and an agenda of the Annual Meeting.  The Annual Meeting shall elect local officers and at-large members of the Coordinating Committee, and may adopt an annual budget, including the Local’s fundraising plan. The Annual Meeting is the highest legislative body of the Local.

A quorum of 10% of the local membership is required for the annual meeting to transact business. The agenda for the Annual Meeting shall be set by the Coordinating Committee.

Section 2:  Regular Meetings

The Local will hold Regular Meetings at least four times annually, the time and place of which shall be set in a schedule published and distributed by the Local Coordinating Committee.  The Regular Meetings will set Local policy and work priorities, and may include political education sessions.

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

A quorum of 5% of the local membership is required for a Regular Meeting to transact business. The Coordinating Committee shall set the agenda for Regular Meetings.

Section 3:  Emergency Meeting

The Coordinating Committee may call an Emergency Meeting of the Local when an urgent and important matter requires deliberation. The Coordinating Committee shall give as much notice as practicable under the circumstances of Emergency meetings to all Local members. The quorum requirements applicable to Regular Meetings shall apply to Emergency Meetings.

Section 4:  Accessibility and Proxy

Meetings will be held in accessible locations whenever possible. Meetings will be live-streamed whenever feasible. Participation via video or teleconference shall be facilitated for members with disabilities requesting an accommodation. In addition, members may designate another member to act as their proxy vote and/or speaker, as an accommodation, by filing a request with a member of the Coordinating Committee. The Coordinating Committee will make it known to the local membership which Board member is the point person for accommodations, but any Board member contacted is responsible for making sure the member’s requests are heard and responded to.

Section 5:  Endorsement Threshold

As of the general meeting of June 2021, endorsements of any kind may be made by a 60% vote at a local meeting.

Section 6:  Absentee Voting

1. The Local shall offer absentee voting for all proposals excepting those regarding the removal of a member from the Local (see Article III, Section 2) and proposal votes that take place at Chapter Convention, for which votes must be conducted in person and, according to the CC’s discretion, via the proxy process. Elections of the Coordinating Committee and other positions will always be done via absentee voting. For any proposal, there must be at least one in person forum at a Local meeting for oral discussion and debate of the issue. Prior to the day of the forum, there must also be an online discussion period of at least three days. Absentee voting shall open after the forum and last at least three days, during which time online discussion shall be ongoing. All approval thresholds for bylaw amendments, endorsements, or other specific proposal types referenced elsewhere in these bylaws are unchanged for absentee voting.
2. Eligibility: In order to be eligible for absentee voting, members must have joined DSA more than 30 days prior to the forum or have attended the relevant forum in person or via proxy. This restriction does not apply to voting in person or by proxy.
3. Absentee Ballots: Absentee ballots exchanged over the web must be transported with end-to-end encryption. The requesting member’s identity shall be securely authenticated at the time a ballot is issued. Summaries of the online and in person discussions and access to the complete records of these discussions must be made available on the same interface as the absentee ballot.
4. Amendments: Amendments to proposals must be submitted before absentee voting opens. Any amendment not accepted by the primary proposal’s authors may be withdrawn by the amenders. If not withdrawn, the alternative version(s) of the primary proposal will be added to the ballot and the proposals will be presented to members as (1) multiple choice including a ‘No on All’ option, (2) approval voting, or (3) in a Scottish STV format, at the discretion of the Coordinating Committee.
5. Quorum: A quorum of 8% of the Local membership is required to transact Regular or Emergency Meeting business via absentee voting. A quorum of 10% of the Local membership is required to transact Annual Meeting business via absentee voting.
6. Methodology: For votes using ranked choice, Scottish STV will be used to count votes. If another methodology is to be used, it will be announced to the membership no fewer than two weeks prior to the vote.
7. Exceptional and Emergency Circumstances: In exceptional and/or emergency circumstances in which deliberation on a proposal cannot be delayed until the required conditions are met, the Coordinating Committee may, by a two-thirds vote, shorten the online discussion and voting period or alternatively put the proposal to proxy voting alone without absentee voting. If Coordinating Committee votes to restrict a given vote to proxy voting only, members present at the vote may, with a two-thirds majority, override the Coordinating Committee and allow for a three-day absentee voting period following the meeting. In consultation with the Technology & Infrastructure Committee, the Coordinating Committee may, by a two-thirds majority, postpone absentee voting should a credible security threat be discovered.
8. Abstaining: As of the general meeting of June 2021, a member abstaining on an online vote, whether by marking “Present”, marking “Abstain” or leaving an item blank on their ballot shall not be counted in the affirmative or negative on the motion. Members shall be provided with instructions when receiving their ballot reminding them of how abstaining will be treated.

ARTICLE V     LOCAL OFFICERS: POWERS AND DUTIES

Section 1:  Offices Established

The Officers of the Local shall be: the two Co-chairs, the Treasurer, the Clerk, the Communications Coordinator, and two Membership Coordinators. The term of office shall run from the Annual Meeting at which the officers are elected until the next Annual Meeting.

Co-Chairs shall not be eligible to more than two (2) terms within six (6) consecutive years. After a lapse of one (1) year following a second term within the six year limitation, eligibility is reestablished.

Local non-chair officers shall not be eligible to more than four (4) terms within six (6) consecutive years. After a lapse of one (1) year following a second term within the six year limitation, eligibility is reestablished.

Section 2:  Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy in any office, the Coordinating Committee shall call for a special election to fill the unexpired term. Such election shall be held at a Regular Meeting, not later than three months after the vacancy occurs. If an Annual Meeting is scheduled before the last Regular Meeting at which the special election must be held, then the vacancy shall be filled at the regular elections at the Annual Meeting. Notice of a special election shall be included in the notice and agenda for the Regular Meeting at which it is to be held.

Section 3:  Co-chairs

The Co-chairs shall be responsible for facilitating or delegating the facilitation of Local and Coordinating Committee Meetings. They are responsible for setting the initial rules of facilitation for Local and Coordinating Committee Meetings, but these rules can be revised by a vote of the whole Coordinating Committee at any time. Co-chairs should regularly seek public input from the general membership on the running of Local Meetings and implement the feedback if practical. The Co-chairs shall be the official public spokespersons for the Local. At least one of the Co-chairs must not be male.

Section 4:  Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for the funds and financial records of the Local.   The Treasurer shall prepare the annual Local budget, and deliver a financial report to the Annual Meeting, as well as prepare periodic progress reports as requested by the Coordinating Committee.

Section 5:  Communications Coordinator

The Communications Coordinator is responsible for overseeing all internal (to members) and external (to the public) communications for the Local. They shall ensure that all Chapter meetings, endorsements, votes, and calls for discussion are communicated well and clearly to membership. This includes facilitating the creation and maintenance of external and internal communications standards and strategies.

The Communications Coordinator has the freedom to establish editorial and communications policy with input from the Coordinating Committee and local membership unless overruled. Overruling would require a vote of a simple majority of members on the Coordinating Committee or a vote of a simple majority of the local membership at a local meeting.

Section 6:  Membership Coordinator

The two (2) Membership Coordinators are voting members of the Coordinating Committee responsible for implementing programs to connect with the members of the local as a whole and to encourage their engagement in the Local’s projects. The Membership Coordinators shall prepare an annual Local Membership Report to be delivered at the Annual Meeting, as well as prepare periodic progress reports as requested by the Coordinating Committee.

Section 7:  The Clerk

The Clerk is responsible for keeping the official records of the Chapter and ensuring that policies and processes are clearly documented, including but not limited to: a list of current endorsements, decision minutes including votes of the Coordination Committee and of General Meetings.  The Clerk is also responsible for transmitting and certifying elections and appointments to state and national bodies on behalf of the Chapter, such as delegates to National and local conventions. The Clerk will also work with the Treasurer to maintain compliance with administrative and financial legal requirements.

Section 8:  Assignment of Temporary Duties

The Coordinating Committee may assign additional temporary duties to an officer or member of the Local, so long as the assignment does not conflict with the designation of responsibilities outlined in these bylaws. All local officers may delegate their duties to any other local officer or member, but shall remain responsible to see that their duties are carried out. In the event of a vacancy in any office, the Coordinating Committee may assign the duties of that office to another officer or member of the Local, notwithstanding the designation of responsibilities outlined in this article, until the vacancy is filled as provided in Section 2 of this article.

Section 9:  Establishing New Officers

In the event of the addition of a new Officer position via bylaw amendment, the Coordinating Committee shall call for a special election to fill the unexpired term. Such election shall be held at the second Regular Meeting after the passage of the bylaw amendment. If the position is elected from the current at-large Coordinating Committee members, a vote to replace the vacant position would need to take place in the manner prescribed in Article V, Section 2 of these bylaws. Any member in good standing of Boston DSA is eligible for election, but the final body of the Coordinating Committee must adhere to all prescribed compositions in Article VI, Section 1, unless the bylaw amendment establishing the new position does not change the permanent number of Coordinating Committee members and a new member is elected, which addition to the Coordinating Committee membership shall be in effect until the next election unless an At-Large member vacates bringing the Coordinating Committee to its permanent number of members.

ARTICLE VI     COORDINATING COMMITTEE

Section 1:  Composition of Coordinating Committee; Term of Office

The Local shall have a Coordinating Committee composed of the following members:

1. The seven Officers of the Local,
2. Four members elected at large at the Annual Meeting.

The Coordinating Committee’s must maintain a gender ratio where cis men make up no more seats than their proportional representation in our chapter’s overall gender demographics as determined by the Membership Coordinators, with the total number of cis men on the Coordinating Committee never to exceed 65 percent. Thus, for an 11-seat Coordinating Committee, cis men must never make up more than 7 members.

Members in good standing of the Local will be eligible for office, except:

1. A candidate running for public office
2. An elected official holding public office

Members of the Coordinating Committee who begin a campaign or are elected or appointed to an elected public office during their term on the Coordinating Committee must notify the Coordinating Committee of this change in status and resign from the Coordinating Committee. The vacancy will be filed through the procedure in Article VI, Section 2. For the purposes of the above restrictions, the “elected official holding public office” designation excludes members of town meetings.

The term of office for all members of the Coordinating Committee shall run from the Annual Meeting at which the officers and at-large members are elected until the next Annual Meeting.

Members of the Coordinating Committee may take a leave of absence for up to three months for emergencies or other personal difficulties. They must, as far as they are able, inform the Coordinating Committee in writing of their intention to take a leave. The member on leave may appoint a replacement who will exercise their duties while they are on leave. The appointment of the replacement must be confirmed by the Coordinating Committee.

Section 2:  Vacancies

Vacancies in at-large seats shall be filled in the manner prescribed for filling officer vacancies in Article V, Section 2 of these bylaws.

Section 3:  Powers and Duties of Coordinating Committee

The Coordinating Committee administers the affairs of the Local and oversees the implementation of the decisions of the Annual and Regular Meetings; it may also propose policy to the Annual and Regular Meetings. It shall have the power to receive reports of any Committee, and advise thereon, to call Emergency Meetings of the Local, and to act on any matter which requires immediate and urgent action. The Coordinating Committee shall be responsible for maintaining any local office, and all decisions relating to the employment of any local staff. The Coordinating Committee is the regular executive body of the Local, and thus subordinate to its legislative bodies, the Annual and Regular Meetings.

Section 4:  Meetings

The meetings of the Coordinating Committee shall be held at the call of the Co-chairs at such intervals as may be determined by the Coordinating Committee. All members of the Coordinating Committee must (ordinarily) be given four days oral or written notice of regular Coordinating Committee meetings; a 24 hour notice may be given during special emergency circumstances. All Coordinating Committee meetings shall be open to all members of the local, and to non-members at the Committee’s discretion. The Committee may meet in private session solely to evaluate the performance of or discipline the Local’s staff, to discuss individual performance, discipline or grievances with affected staff members, or to negotiate individually or bargain collectively with staff members over wages, salaries, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment. Local members shall have speaking rights before the Committee, subject to reasonable time limitations the Board may set.

Section 5:  Quorum

A quorum of at least half the Coordinating Committee members presently in office is required for the transaction of Coordinating Committee business.

Section 6:  Accountability

In the first meeting of the Coordinating Committee after the annual meeting, the Coordinating Committee shall set collective expectations that outline the commitments, duties, and responsibilities of individual Coordinating Committee members. These responsibilities shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, carrying out work in a timely manner, engaging in Coordinating Committee debates and discussions, and routinely attending meetings. The Coordinating Committee shall present the expectations to the general membership for discussion, amendments, and a vote of approval at the first regular meeting after the annual meeting.

Nonfeasance is defined to include unexcused absences from two or more consecutive Regular Meetings, unexcused absences from three or more Coordinating Committee meetings, or otherwise not meeting collective expectations set by the Coordinating Committee or fulfilling duties of the elected office. Remote participation in Coordinating Committee meetings shall not count as absences. An excused absence shall be defined as any absence where the Board member notifies the Coordinating Committee with 24 hours of notice, barring an emergency.

The Coordinating Committee may recommend the removal of a Coordinating Committee member for nonfeasance, which shall happen through a two-thirds vote of the membership at a regular meeting. Members may initiate the recall of a Coordinating Committee member for not meeting the collective expectations with a petition that garners support of 5% of all members of the chapter. Upon introducing a valid petition of recall, a Coordinating Committee member may be removed by a two thirds vote at a regular meeting.

The Coordinating Committee may recommend the removal of a Coordinating Committee member to the general membership for malfeasance, defined as any abuse of position that may compromise the local of its integrity, including but not limited to misuse of local funds, local membership or voter lists, or other resources. Members may also initiate the recall of a Coordinating Committee member for malfeasance with a petition that garners support of 5% of all members of the chapter. Upon introducing a valid petition of recall, a Coordinating Committee member may be removed by a two thirds vote at a regular meeting.

Section 7:  Disclosure and Recusal of Political Staffers

Members who are staff, paid or unpaid, holding a leadership role of any kind for a campaign for public office or paid staff of an elected official holding public office (political staffers) must disclose that they are a political staffer to the membership when running for a Coordinating Committee position. Members of the Coordinating Committee who become political staffers must disclose this to the membership. Members of the Coordinating Committee who are political staffers are required to recuse themselves from any Coordinating Committee decisions related to their campaign or the office holder they are staff for.

ARTICLE VII     LOCAL FUNDS

Section 1:  Expenditures

All funds will be expended in accordance with the annual budget as amended by local meetings. Expenditure of funds for items not included in the budget or spending over line items in the budget must be approved in advance by the Coordinating Committee or local meeting in accordance with the general policy of the Local.

Section 2:  Bank Accounts

All funds collected by the Local will be turned over to the Treasurer, who shall deposit them in a bank account under the name of the Local.  All checks drawn on the account(s) of the Local must be signed by one of the Co-chairs or the Treasurer.

Section 3:  Delegation of Responsibility for Funds

The Coordinating Committee may from time to time delegate responsibility for the funds of a project to the committee in charge of the project.

ARTICLE VIII     CAUCUSES, WORKING GROUPS, COMMITTEES

Section 1:  Establishment and Membership of Caucuses

Members may form identity-based Caucuses that are open to any member that self-aligns with that identity. Caucuses must be announced to the Coordinating Committee within a month of formation. A member of the Coordinating Committee shall be appointed to serve as liaison with each Caucus, ideally a member that self-aligns with the relevant identity. Caucuses, with the assistance of the Coordinating Committee, must make public their existence and actively recruit. Caucuses have no other responsibilities and may self-govern. However, Caucus members are subject to resolutions procedures and members must adhere to the Code of Conduct.

Section 2:  Establishment of Working Groups

The Coordinating Committee shall establish Working Groups necessary to carry out the political work of the organization,

1. on its own initiative,
2. as directed by a majority vote of a Regular or Annual Meeting, or
3. upon petition of at least 10 members, provided that said petitioners have submitted a written proposal that includes the plan, structure, goals, and composition of the members of the Working Group, and as a result of a majority vote by the Coordinating Committee on whether or not to endorse the initiation of the proposed Working Group, basing its determination on whether the proposed Working Group would be consistent with the purposes and work of the DSA.

The decision to form a new Working Group shall be reported to the membership at a duly constituted meeting.

Section 3:  Interim Chair and Membership of Working Groups

The Coordinating Committee shall appoint an interim chair of any newly formed Working Group if one was not specified in an accepted petition to establish the Working Group. Membership in a Working Group is voluntary and open to all members of the local that are in good standing. A member of the Coordinating Committee shall be appointed to serve as liaison with each Working Group.

Section 4:  Chair of Working Groups

1. After the Working Group is created, but by no later than the working group’s second meeting, the working group shall hold elections for either one (1) Chair or two (2) Co-Chairs, as decided by the working group. Terms shall be for either six months or one year at the working group members’ choosing, and incumbents may stand for reelection. A member of the Elections Committee or an independent party shall facilitate Working Group Chair elections in the case that the election is contested. Chair candidate elections shall be reheld in the event that a majority of voters issue a vote of no confidence.
2. Working Group members shall create a set of expected commitments, duties, and responsibilities for the Chairperson or Co-Chairs. “Working Group Members” in this case are any members of the Working Group email list, online channel, or other Working Group-specific communication medium. Working Group Chairs are responsible for communicating meeting times and working group business to both local membership and the Coordinating Committee. Chairs of working groups are ineligible for the position in other working groups. Working Groups can decide any further responsibilities for their chairs, and can also choose to elect additional officer positions. Nonfeasance for a Working Group Chair is defined to include unexcused absences from three or more Working Group meetings. Remote participation in Working Group meetings shall not count as absences. An excused absence shall be defined as any absence where the chairperson or co-chair notifies the Working Group with 24 hours of notice, barring an emergency.
3. To remove a Chair for nonfeasance or malfeasance, all Working Group members must be informed of the pending action via email or members-only online post two weeks before a meeting during which a vote will take place. “Working Group Members” in this case are any members of the Working Group email list, online channel, or other Working Group-specific communication medium.
4. A Working Group Chair may be removed for nonfeasance by a two-thirds vote of local members in good standing at a Working Group meeting. “Good standing” shall be defined as members who are up to date on dues who is on a Working Group communications list and has attended one Working Group meeting.
5. A Working Group Chair may be removed for malfeasance by a two-thirds vote of local members in good standing at a Working Group meeting, with malfeasance defined as any abuse of position that may compromise the Local of its integrity, including but not limited to misuse of Local membership or voter lists or other resources.
6. The Coordinating Committee may reverse the decision of the Working Group to remove a chairperson by a three-fourths vote.
7. The chairperson(s) may take a leave of absence for up to three months for emergencies or other personal difficulties. They may appoint a replacement who will exercise the chairperson’s duties while they are on leave. The appointment of the replacement must be confirmed by the Working Group.

Section 5:  Responsibilities of Working Groups

The Working Group shall be responsible for making reports to the local membership on the Working Group’s activities. The Working Group shall do its best to insure that it has at least five active members and that there is gender balance in the membership.

Section 6:  Termination of Working Groups

A Working Group may be terminated if it has become inactive or its activities are inconsistent with the purposes and work of the DSA. This decision may be made by a unanimous vote of the Working Group or by a two-thirds vote of the members in attendance at a Regular Meeting. Notice of any vote to terminate a Working Group must be given at the previous Regular Meeting and the previous meeting of the Working Group in question if the Working Group is still meeting. The matter may be put to a vote at a Regular Meeting if two-thirds of the Coordinating Committee vote to propose termination of the Working Group or if one-tenth of the local members sign a petition to propose termination of the Working Group.

Section 7:  Establishment of Committees

The Coordinating Committee shall establish Committee necessary to carry out the political work of the organization,

Section 8:  Interim Chair and Membership of Committees

The Coordinating Committee shall appoint an interim chair of a newly formed Committee and may appoint members of the Committees. Members may also volunteer to be involved or be recruited by appointed members. A member of the Coordinating Committee shall be appointed to serve as liaison with each committee.

Section 9:  Chair of Committees

1. After the Committee is created, but by no later than the committee’s second meeting, the committee shall hold elections for either one (1) Chair or two (2) Co-Chairs, as decided by the committee. Terms shall be for either six months or one year at the working group members’ choosing, and incumbents may stand for reelection. Committee members shall create a set of expected commitments, duties, and responsibilities for the Chairperson or Co-Chairs. “Committee Members” in this case are any members of the Committee email list, online channel, or other Committee-specific communication medium. Nonfeasance for a Committee Chair is defined to include unexcused absences from three or more Committee meetings. Remote participation in Committee meetings shall not count as absences. An excused absence shall be defined as any absence where the chairperson or co-chair notifies the Committee with 24 hours of notice, barring an emergency.
2. To remove a Chair for nonfeasance or malfeasance, all Committee members must be informed of the pending action via email or members-only online post two weeks before a meeting during which a vote will take place. “Committee Members” in this case are any members of the Committee email list, online channel, or other Committee-specific communication medium.
3. A Committee Chair may be removed for nonfeasance by a two-thirds vote of local members in good standing at a Committee meeting. “Good standing” shall be defined as members who are up to date on dues who is on a committee communications list and has attended one committee meeting. A Committee Chair may be removed for malfeasance by a two-thirds vote of local members in good standing at a Committee meeting, with malfeasance defined as any abuse of position that may compromise the Local of its integrity, including but not limited to misuse of Local membership or voter lists or other resources.
4. The Coordinating Committee may reverse the decision of the Committee to remove a chairperson by a three-fourths vote.
5. The chairperson(s) may take a leave of absence for up to three months for emergencies or other personal difficulties. They may appoint a replacement who will exercise the chairperson’s duties while they are on leave. The appointment of the replacement must be confirmed by the committee.

Section 10:  Responsibilities of Working Groups

The Committee shall be responsible for making reports to the Coordinating Committee and to the local membership on the Committee’s activities.

Section 11:  Termination of Committee

If in the opinion of the Coordinating Committee, the activities of any Committee have become inconsistent with the purposes and work of the DSA, if the Committee has become inactive, or if the Committee’s responsibilities are complete, the Coordinating Committee may vote on termination of the Committee.

ARTICLE IX     DELEGATES TO NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE BODIES

Section 1:  Convention

Local delegates and alternates to the National Convention will be elected by members of the Local.  Elections for the National Convention delegation shall be held on the schedule announced by the national organization.

ARTICLE X     PROHIBITED ACTIVITY

The Boston Local shall not engage in activity prohibited by the IRS guidelines established for 501 (c) 4 organizations or similar rules established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, nor shall the local engage in any activity prohibited by resolutions adopted by DSA’s National Convention or DSA’s National Political Committee.

ARTICLE XI     NOMINATIONS

Section 1:  Nominations Committee

At least two months prior to every election, the Coordinating Committee shall appoint three persons who shall constitute a Nominations Committee. It shall solicit and receive nominations for the positions to be elected. The Committee’s formation and composition shall be announced at the following membership meeting and in the subsequent edition of the newsletter.

Section 2:  Nominations Process

The list of candidates shall be presented to the membership meeting by the Nominations Committee and shall be seconded from the floor. Additional nominations, properly seconded, shall be accepted from the floor by the Chair of the meeting. If a position is uncontested, the nominee will be declared elected by acclamation. Otherwise, all elections will be by secret ballot.

Section 3:  Mail-in Ballots

The Coordinating Committee may decide to elect any national or local positions by mail-in ballots, electronic mail ballots, or other online voting method, provided that reasonable steps are taken to insure that all members who desire to be nominated are given the opportunity.

ARTICLE XII     AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may at any time be amended by a 2/3 vote at a local meeting, provided that notice of the substance of the proposed amendment is stated in the notice of the meeting.

ARTICLE XIII     RULES OF THE LOCAL

Section 1:  Use Robert’s Rules of Order

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this Local 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 upon the request of a member.

Section 2:  Void Actions

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

Section 3:  Conflict

In case of conflict between these Bylaws and the national DSA constitution, the national DSA Constitution shall rule.

ARTICLE XIV     TRANSPARENCY AND RECORD KEEPING

Section 1:  List of Resolutions

The Clerk shall maintain a list of which chapter resolutions are active and which have expired. This list shall be actively maintained and openly available to the membership. It shall include the status and content of all resolutions passed since 01/01/2015; extending onward into the future indefinitely as new resolutions are passed and others expire.

ARTICLE XV     HARASSMENT AND GRIEVANCE OFFICERS (HGOs)

Section 1:  The purpose of the HGO position

In accordance with National DSA’s Resolution 33, the position of HGO exists to address violations of the code of conduct, as well as provide a means for addressing conflict within the chapter. HGOs are to resolve grievances and conflicts in accordance with Resolution 33 and the most recent version of the Chapter Resolutions Procedure.

Section 2:  Election of HGOs

1. The chapter will elect up to six and no fewer than four HGOs at the annual convention for a one-year term.
2. HGOs may not simultaneously hold any other elected positions within the Coordinating Committee.
3. There is no consecutive term limit for HGOs.

Section 3:  Recall of HGOs

The recall of an HGO follows the same procedure for the recall of a member of the Coordinating Committee as described in Article VI Section 6.

Section 4: Vacancies

If an HGO position should become vacant for any reason, the Coordinating Committee may appoint a temporary replacement for up to three months, during which time a special election must be held to elect a replacement for the remainder of the term. The appointed temporary HGO is eligible to run in this special election.