This is a proposed amendment to Resolution #20: Protection for Caucuses. The suggestions I'm making to amend the resolutions aim to 1) disclose NPC candidate relationship to any caucus/association; 2) broaden the language to include those groups who don't call themselves caucuses but form associations within DSA; 3) make explicit that staff should not use DSA resources to benefit any caucus/faction; 4) remove overly unclear language.

Resolution #20: “Protection for Caucuses”
AMENDMENT: Andrew S (Madison)

Therefore be it resolved, all DSA members have the right to organize into caucuses based on shared identities, strategies, and ideological positions. A caucus is any such formalized free association of members at any level of the organization;

Be it further resolved, all caucuses should have the right to advocate openly for their views in the organization, no matter how small a minority they may comprise. DSA members shall not be excluded by any body because of their membership to a caucus or association;

Be it resolved, that DSA staff or those otherwise employed by the organization shall not use staff time or DSA resources to benefit any caucus or association, including redirecting previously apportioned funds dedicated to specific organizing work for other purposes;

Be it resolved, that candidates for the National Political Committee should be asked to disclose any affiliations they have to a caucus or standing association of members within the organization for the purpose of influencing the DSA, and that this association shall be made known in candidate election materials to members;

And be it finally resolved, a national Caucuses Working Group will be formed to explore the possibility of amending the DSA Constitution or Bylaws to solidify these protections. The working group will have a method by which members of DSA may join and will be democratically structured. It will work to one aim: presenting an amendment proposal to the national membership. Should the Caucuses Working Group finalize such a proposal by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on December 31, 2020, ratification of the amendment will be decided by a referendum of the membership (with a quorum of four percent [4%] of the entire membership). Should this not be possible for any reason, the Convention Committee for the 2021 National Convention will place the question of the amendment on the order of the day for one of the dates of that convention.

Background Information

WHEREAS, DSA is committed to multi-tendency organizing and embracing a spectrum of leftist thought and organizing spaces for people of every identity, but there are no guarantees that the National Office or chapter leaderships will allow individual caucuses to organize. To fully realize that commitment to ideological diversity on the left, caucuses’ right to organize must be protected;

Whereas, the structure of DSA was not designed with the presence of organized groups and caucuses have played an increasingly large role in the internal life of DSA;

Whereas, DSA members should have an express sense of the rights and responsibilities of caucuses;

Whereas, while the larger structure of DSA should be considered in the long-term there are some immediate reforms that could benefit democracy in the DSA