This is our current, operating organizational constitution, adopted November 16th, 2008. It is not complete and remains a work in progress, however, all clauses, by the democratic decision of membership, are binding. The previous constitution, adopted in 1972, is listed at the bottom of this page.
A. The Name of the Organization shall be the "Social Democrats, USA".
B. The Name of the Organization's Political Arm shall be "The Socialist Party of America".
C. In referring to the entire Organization, the Name shall be "Social Democrats, USA--Socialist Party of America".
1. Chartered Affiliates may do business under other names provided they explicitly identify as Affiliates of the SD,USA--SPA (for instance, "The Social Democratic Party of Pennsylvania, the Keystone State Affiliate of the Social Democrats, USA--Socialist Party of America").
2. All Affiliates shall adhere to the Provisions of the Statement of Principles and National Constitution regardless of what name they use for business purposes.
3. No one who is not a Chartered Affiliate of the SD,USA--SPA shall claim to be so.
4. An Affiliate may Consist of a Single Member provided he/she is seeking to grow the Organization.
5. A member or members wishing to be an Affiliate shall be chartered by a two/thirds vote of existing Affiliates during that week's conference call.
6. Non-members cannot apply to be Affiliates.
7. Affiliates may allow anyone they please to attend meetings, with the exception of those banned from membership because of ideological incompatibility. However, only members of the national organization can vote on organizational matters.
8. Affiliates may not combine or enter into coalitions with those defined herein as illogically incompatible.
D. The Name of the Organization's Youth Group shall be the "Young Social Democrats / Young People's Socialist League".
1. The YSD-YPSL (or Yipsel) may charter Affiliates in the same manner as the parent organization.
2. Each Yipsel Affiliate shall also have one vote during each week's telephone conference.
A. Members shall state, in their membership applications, that: wishing, by democratic means, to bring about democratic socialism / social democracy they wish to be enrolled in the SD,USA--SPA.
B. Further, Members shall state that they are in Substantial Agreement with the Statement of Principles which appears at the SD,USA--SPA website.
C. No one who espouses "democratic centralism", "Marxism-Leninism", "vanguardism", "socialism-communism", "national socialism", nor anyone under the discipline of an organization espousing any of these dictums shall be admitted to Membership. It shall also be incompatible for a prospective member to be involved with groups that espouse violence when a peaceful and democratic path to democratic social change exists. Also, no members of cult-like organizations which demand complete loyalty of followers including the use of mind control techniques, surrender of personal finances, and/or participation in criminal activity may be members of SD,USA-SPA.
D. Members shall pay Dues.
1. Individual Members shall pay Dues in the amount of five dollars monthly for each ten thousand dollars of Disposable Income. For instance, a member earning ten thousand dollars a year with no dependents would pay sixty dollars a year in dues.
2. The Organization is empowered to provide dual and family memberships provided the base rate of five dollars monthly is maintained.
2. Dues may be paid monthly, semi-annually, or annually.
3. A Member shall fall from Good Standing after three months of non-payment of Dues and the Receipt of a Request for said Dues from the National Office.
4. A Member in Financial Hard Times may petition the National Office for a Dues Reduction.
a. Said Petition shall state, briefly, the nature of the problem and its approximate duration.
b. Upon receipt of said Petition, the National Office shall grant a Dues Reduction, except that no reduction shall be to an amount below one dollar per month.
c. It shall be the responsibility of the Member seeking a Dues Reduction to reapply each six months.
E. Responsibilities and Privileges of Members:
1. It shall be the responsibility of all Members to attempt to recruit new members in such ways as are practicable.
2. It shall be the responsibility of all Members to participate in the internal democratic life of the Organization.
3. All Members are encouraged to participate as Officers in the Organization or its Affiliates.
4. Members are encouraged to write for Organizational Publications.
5. No Member shall be deprived of Membership, Office, or Standing in the Organization without scrupulous Due Process.
a. A Member accused of an infraction shall have the right to be heard at Reasonable Length through him or herself or any representative he or she shall name before any body constituted to administer discipline.
b. A Member shall have the Right of Appeal to the next highest body within the Organization in all disciplinary matters.
6. It shall be the responsibility of each Member to notify the National Office of changes in contact information, including but not limited to street address, email address, and phone number.
7. Members who are unknown to the body approving their membership shall provide some reasonable form of identification if their dues check does not have a permanent street address printed on it.
F. Any citizen or resident of the United States and its territories is eligible for membership.
1. Any full time student regardless of educational environment may be a Member of the YSD/YPSL and may remain so as long as they are full time students even if they hold a position within the national or local SD,USA or SPA.
2. All Members over the age of 16 shall be members of the SD,USA.
3. All Members over 18 shall be members of the Socialist Party of America.
4. For the time being, a officer of the SD,USA shall hold the equivalent position in the SPA and the League for Industrial Democracy.
A. We recognize the words "Social Democrat" as being synonymous and interchangeable with and as being "Socialist" and having the full freedoms inalienable to democracy.
B. The SD,USA--SPA herein asserts that it is the only Legitimate Heir of the Social Democratic Party of America formed in 1898, which after a merger became The Socialist Party of America in 1901; which after a subsequent merger became The Socialist Party-Social Democratic Federation in 1956; which then changed its name to The Socialist Party, USA in 1962; which after still another merger became The Socialist Party, USA-Democratic Socialist Federation in 1972; and then democratically voted to change the name of the group to Social Democrats, USA in 1972. We herein assert claim over all the previous names of our organization including Socialist Party, USA.
C. The Young Social Democrats / Young People's Socialist League herein asserts that it is the only Legitimate Heir to the Young People's Socialist League founded in 1913 and continuing as the youth group of The Socialist Party of America throughout its existence.
D. The Party is proud to see its Women's Section reformed.
E. The Organization herein asserts its solidarity with the League for Industrial Democracy and the Student League for Industrial Democracy and acknowledges these organizations as integral allies to the SD,USA--SPA.
F. The organization herein asserts that all property, physical and intellectual, of the organizations that constitute the SD,USA--SPA heritage shall be collectively held by the organization for future generations of democratic socialists / social democrats in the United States of America.
G. Locally, Affiliates may use any of the Party's previous names. An Affiliate may use the following names, provided a clear statement exists that the affiliate is a subsection of the SD,USA-SPA. The SD,USA-SPA shall disavowal any group not clearly identifying as a subsection of the Party and in accordance with Party Principles. The following names are pre-approved.
H. No Affiliate shall claim or suggest to represent more than a clearly defined subsection of the United States such as an individual state, territory or municipality or, in the case of the YSD/YSPL, a school campus.
Adopted December 31, 1972; Amended September 8, 1974; July 18, 1976; November 21-23, 1981; December 5, 1982; December 6, 1987; and March 24, 1990.
This constitution is under review, but de facto is our working document as of Sunday, 18 May 2008. All memebers in good standing are invited to comradely join in with the duty to protect our organization. A final vote will be taken soon as we are now having weekly phone conferences to speed the process up. Use forums and internal email between calls.
Each (Line #) is numbered to help reference changes to the text.
(Line 1) The name of this organization shall be the Social Democrats, U.S.A. the successor of the Socialist Party U.S.A. and the Democratic Socialist Federation of the U.S.A.
(Line 2) Its purpose shall be the achievement of social democracy in America and throughout the world, an objective which entails the extension of democracy to all institutions -- political, social, and economic. Its youth section shall be the Young Social Democrats (YSD).
Section 1.
(Line 3) Local organization, hereinafter called "Locals", shall be chartered by the National Committee (hereinafter called the "NC") upon the application of five or more qualified members, after consultation with the State Committee, subject to appeal to the National Committee.
(Line 4)A Local shall consist of all members of the S.D., U.S.A. residing within the area designated in the charter. YSD members may organize YSD Chapters as governed by the constitution.
Section 2.
(Line 5) Local organizations may charter branches within their jurisdiction on either a geographical or functional basis.
Section 3.
(Line 6) State organizations may be chartered by the NC upon the application of two or more Locals in a state.
(Line 7) All members of the S.D., U.S.A. within a state are members of the state organization.
(Line 8) In any organized state, a state convention shall be held upon the call of the State Committee or upon petition by 25% of the members and shall be called within thirty days.
(Line 9) A state Committee which shall act for the state organization between conventions shall be selected under procedures established by the state convention.
Section 4.
(Line 10) National referenda, national convention decisions and those of the NC shall take precedence over conflicting state or local decisions; in all other respects the state organization shall have full powers.
(Line 11) State and local committees in areas where there is an organized YSD shall include at least one member of the YSD who shall have full voting rights.
(Line 12) Such members shall be elected by the YSD of the area.
Section 5.
(Line 13) All members and S.D., U.S.A organizations within each state, city or county shall be subject to the organizational direction and discipline of the respective state, city or county committee.
Section 6.
(Line 14) Any local organization failing to have five or more members in good standing for a period of six consecutive months shall be automatically suspended and its charter revoked.
Section 7.
(Line 15) All state and local organizations shall hold their authority subject to the NC which may suspend a charter pending a hearing which shall be held within thirty days or revoke a charter after a hearing.
Section 8.
(Line 16) Failure or refusal of state, local, YSD or other sections to carry out programs of activity and decisions of the NC and the general policy of the S.D., U.S.A. is cause for suspension or revocation of charter.
Section 9.
(Line 17) All state and local platforms and political activities shall conform to the referenda, convention decisions, resolutions, and platforms of the S.D., U.S.A.
(Line 18) No state or local organizations shall fuse or combine with rival political parties or organizations.
(Line 19) In no event may local organizations or individual members support or endorse the nominee of, or work with Communist, Trotskyist, or other totalitarian parties or organizations.
Section 1.
(Line 20) Every person resident of the United Sates and its territories of the age of eighteen years and over, without discrimination as to sex, color, creed or national origin who has no connection with any political party or group opposed to the S.D., U.S.A. shall be eligible for membership.
(Line 21) Members shall take part in the nomination of the candidates for public office in conformity with the laws of the state in which they reside.
Section 2.
(Line 22) The Local organization shall recommend for admission any applicant meeting the requirements herein laid down, subject to the approval of the NC.
(Line 23) The Local organization shall have full power over expulsion and discipline of members, subject to appeal to state committee, National Committee and National Convention.
(Line 24) Disciplinary procedure shall include provision for written charges, notice and open hearings within thirty days.
(Line 25) The NC may assume full power over admission, expulsion and discipline of members-at-large.
(Line 26) In the case of YSD members-at-large, the YSD NEC shall be consulted and may recommend action on the above.
(Line 27) The NC may assume jurisdiction if such a hearing is not held within 30 days.
Section 3.
(Line 28) Every applicant for membership shall sign an application.
(Line 29) Annual membership cards shall be issued by the NC to every member.
(Line 30) The National Office shall maintain a list of current addresses of members and make transfers of members who move from one locality to another.
Section 1.
(Line 31) The affairs of the S.D., U.S.A. shall be administered by the National Convention, the National Committee, its officers and subcommittees, subject to referendum as hereinafter provided.
Section 2.
(Line 32) The size of the NC shall be determined by and elected by the regular National Convention of the S.D., U.S.A., and shall include the National Chairman.
(Line 33) Members of the NC shall be elected by preferential balloting.
Section 3.
(Line 34) The National Convention shall also elect in the same manner alternates to the NC, from whom vacancies in the committee shall be filled in the order of the vote they received.
(Line 35) The YSD shall elect one alternate who shall likewise be a member of the S.D., U.S.A. and who shall serve as alternate to the member elected by the YSD.
Section 4.
(Line 36) If a member of the NC is unable to attend a meeting of the NC, he shall notify the National Office which shall then notify the alternate designated by the absentee in order of preference to set for him at the meeting.
Section 5.
(Line 37) Vacancies in the office of National Chairman shall be filled by the NC.
Section 6.
(Line 38) Two year continuous membership in the S.D., U.S.A. shall be required to qualify for National Chairman, Vice-Chairman or as a member or alternate of the NC.
Section 7.
(Line 39) A quorum for any action of the NC shall consist of a majority of the members or seated alternates.
Section 8.
(Line 40) The NC upon its election shall create and set rules on size, quorum, procedure and jurisdiction of the National Action Committee or other committees.
(Line 41) It shall also have power to dissolve these committees provided that it delegates to another subordinate committee the responsibility for conduction ongoing affairs of the organization.
Section 9.
(Line 42) The NC may select a National Council composed of S.D., U.S.A. members, and representatives of labor, cooperative, fraternal, veterans, peace and youth organizations which shall serve as an advisory body.
Section 1.
(Line 43) The NC shall assume office immediately upon its election and shall hold office until its successors have been elected.
(Line 44) Between conventions, the NC shall be the governing body of the S.D., U.S.A., with authority to lay down policies and direct action in accordance with convention and referendum decisions.
Section 2.
(Line 45) The NC shall represent the S.D., U.S.A. in national and international affairs.
(Line 46) It shall call conventions, serve as a temporary credentials committee, prepare a tentative agenda and temporary rules and order of business.
(Line 47) It shall submit a report to the membership at least thirty days before the Convention covering finances, activities, membership, and general state of the S.D., U.S.A., and make recommendations to the Convention as it finds necessary.
(Line 48) The NC shall meet at least once every six months except by unanimous consent with at least one meeting a year in the National Office and one meeting a year in Washington, D.C.
(Line 49) It shall send minutes to the NC or any appropriate bodies, to all state, local, and branch organizations.
Section 3.
(Line 50) The NC shall be the custodian of all property of the S.D., U.S.A. Upon dissolution, suspension, expulsion, resignation, disaffiliation or withdrawal of any state or local organization or the YSD or the Verband, all its books, money and other property shall become the property of the NC.
(Line 51) If there are the required number of Locals or members who are willing to comply with the decisions of the S.D., U.S.A., all such books, money and other property shall be transferred to the reorganized sections, as approved by the NC.
Section 4.
(Line 52) It shall fix the location of the headquarters of the S.D., U.S.A., and of all national sections thereof.
Section 5.
(Line 53) It shall engage national organizers, lecturers, and other field workers.
Section 6.
(Line 54) Not less than ninety days before the date of any national convention or not less than sixty days before the date of any special convention it shall apportion the representation of such convention in accordance with the provision of this constitution.
Section 1.
(Line 55) a) The National Chairman or National Co-Chairmen shall be elected by the Convention by majority vote.
(Line 56) He is responsible, together with the other national officers, to publicly present S.D., U.S.A. policy.
(Line 57) b) The President shall be elected by the Convention by majority vote.
Section 2.
(Line 58) Subject to the supervision of the NC or any appropriate bodies, the Executive Director shall have charge of the National Office and of its employees, and shall supervise the accounts and activities of the S.D., U.S.A.
Section 3.
(Line 59) a) The Executive Director shall be elected by the NC at the first meeting after its election and the NC shall fix his salary.
(Line 60) He may be removed by the NC.
(Line 61) b) The NC may elect one or more vice-chairmen from its membership and may elect such other officers as it seems necessary.
Section 4.
(Line 62) Three years continuous membership shall be required to qualify for Executive Director.
Section 5.
(Line 63) The National Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall serve without salary and shall have such powers and duties as usually appertain to those officers.
Section 1.
(Line 64) The NC shall call a convention no later than during the second calender year following the year of the previous convention.
(Line 65) Special conventions may be called by referendum.
(Line 66) The representation shall be as follows:
(Line 67) a) The number of delegates to all conventions shall be set at not more than one hundred and fifty nor less than seventy five, by vote of the NC at least ninety days before the date set by it for the convention, except in the case of a special convention when such period shall be no less the sixty days.
(Line 68) b) the apportionment of delegates to conventions shall be as follows: Representation shall be based upon the actual membership of the S.D., U.S.A. as determined by registration as of six months prior to the opening day of the convention, qualification for registration to be paid up dues and full paid up assessments by each member for the calendar year in which the election of delegates is to take place.
(Line 69) A state not having registered sufficient members for a full delegate may voluntarily combine with a contiguous state or states to elect a voting delegate(s).
(Line 70) c) There shall be one YSD representative at conventions who shall be elected by the YSD NEC.
Section 2.
(Line 71) The method of election of delegates shall be determined by the state committee in organized states.
(Line 72) In unorganized states, delegates shall be allocated to locals and to the membership at large.
(Line 73) Such locals shall determine the method of election of delegates.
(Line 74) Delegates allocated to membership at large shall be elected under procedures to be set by the NAC.
(Line 75) Only members in good standing who have been members for at least six months prior to the closing of the vote shall be entitled to vote.
(Line 76) The number of such members in each state or local shall be determined by the National Secretary and shall accompany the apportionment.
(Line 77) No protest on the number of such members shall be entertained unless it is made before the vote is closed.
Section 3.
(Line 78) Delegates to national conventions shall be members of the S.D., U.S.A., in the state which they represent, except as provided in Section 1b, and shall have been members of the organization for at least twelve months immediately preceding the opening of the convention.
(Line 79) For the purpose of determining whether a delegate has been a member for twelve months, YPSL membership may be included to the extent of six of the twelve months needed as membership in the S.D., U.S.A.
Section 4.
(Line 80) The election of delegates to the national convention shall, whenever possible, be completed not later than thirty days preceding the convention, and state and local secretaries shall furnish the National Secretary with lists of accredited delegates immediately upon their election.
Section 5.
(Line 81) The National Chairman shall open the convention and shall preside until the convention is permanently organized by the uncontested delegates on roll call as prepared by the NC.
Section 6.
(Line 82) Conventions shall adopt the platform and the constitution of the S.D., U.S.A. and transact such other business as may properly come before the convention and all acts of the convention shall be final and binding on all officers, committees, and members, unless and until reversed by a referendum.
Section 7.
(Line 83) The NC shall issue a call for resolutions and suggestions three months before the convention. It shall prepare a preliminary agenda.
(Line 84) The SD., U.S.A., shall be affiliated with the Socialist International and shall have fraternal relations with the Asian Socialist Conference.
Section 1.
(Line 85) a) National dues shall be paid annually at the rate of $_____ (unemployed); not less than $_____ (retired); $_____ (regular); $_____ for husband and wife (dual).
(Line 86) Each year’s dues payments shall entitle the member to a year’s subscription to New America.
(Line 87) The Fiscal year for all members shall be the calendar year.
(Line 88) National dues may, on formal agreement between the local or state and the NC, be paid in monthly installments of at least $_____ per month for the entire twelve months.
(Line 89) In the case of the Jewish Socialist Verband dues matters will be decided by the National Committee.
(Line 90) b) any question, motion, resolution or constitutional amendment proposed by at least two-thirds of the actual membership of the NC.
Section 2.
(Line 91) Proposal to submit matters to a referendum shall be printed in Hammer & Tongs and shall be open for endorsements for a period of thirty days.
(Line 92) If there are not sufficient endorsements at the expiration of thirty days, the matter may not be raised for a period of six months.
(Line 93) Notice of such result shall be given to all members.
Section 3.
(Line 94) Whenever a national convention is to be held within six months, no question shall be submitted to a referendum vote except a motion to postpone the convention.
Section 4.
(Line 95) a) The term "Locals" shall apply to the organization in a city or county and shall not mean the branches or subdivisions of a city or county organization.
(Line 96) b) The term "membership" shall mean total members in good standing as herein provided.
Section 5.
(Line 97) Referenda shall be submitted without preamble; comment not to exceed five hundred words both for and against the proposition may accompany it.
Section 6.
(Line 98) The return of the vote in any referendum shall be in the National Office not later than thirty days after the date of mailing of ballots by the National Office.
Section 7.
(Line 99) Whenever a motion, resolution, amendment or question has been submitted to referendum of the membership, no referendum on the same issue may be held for at least one year.
Section 8.
(Line 100) Only members of the S.D., U.S.A, who have been members fore at least six months and who are in good standing may vote in a referendum.
Section 1.
(Line 101) The Jewish Socialist Verband is an integral part of the S.D., U.S.A.
Section 2.
(Line 102) As such it is the stated policy of the S.D., U.S.A., that among the members elected to the NC there shall be individuals who are members of the Jewish Socialist Verband.
Section 3.
(Line 103) The Verband shall always observe and carry out all decisions of the S.D., U.S.A.'s conventions and the National Committee.
Section 4.
(Line 104) Verband locals and branches shall send delegates to the city, central, state and county committees of the S.D., U.S.A., and Verband members and units shall have the same rights and responsibilities as all other members of the S.D., U.S.A.
Section 5.
(Line 105) The Verband members may vote and participate in all activities of the parent body, the S.D., U.S.A.
Section 6.
(Line 106) Wherever the YSD creates a Chapter or sectional organization, the S.D., U.S.A. in the locality shall exchange delegates on appropriate committee.
Section 1.
(Line 103) The Socialist Party, by that name, shall continue in association with the Social Democrats, U.S.A.
Section 2.
(Line 104) The Socialist Party shall have the following duties and functions:
(Line 105) a) To maintain its present relationship with the Socialist Society of the United States of America, Inc.
(Line 106) b) To solicit and receive money for distribution for socialist purposes including electoral activity, in accordance with the decision of its Board.
(Line 107) c) To engage in scholarly work and research on the history of the socialist and labor movements.
(Line 108) d) To perform any other tasks assigned to it by the National Committee of the Social Democrats, U.S.A.
Section 3.
(Line 109) The Socialist Party shall be governed by a Board, the membership of which shall be the same as the membership of the National Committee of the Social Democrats, U.S.A., and which shall hold such office in The Socialist Party as long as they hold the same post on the National Committee of the Social Democrats, U.S.A.
Section 4.
(Line 110) The Socialist Party shall not take any action contrary to the referendum decisions, constitution, program and decisions of the National Committee and national conventions of the Social Democrats, U.S.A.
Section 1.
(Line 111) The Young People's Socialist League, by that name, shall continue in association with the Social Democrats, U.S.A.
Section 1.
(Line 112) The NC shall appoint the editor and associate editors of all national S.D., U.S.A. publications.
Section 2.
(Line 113) The NC shall vest in a body of persons responsible to it the national legal ownership of all national S.D., U.S.A. publications.
Section 3.
(Line 114) Every publication for general circulation by the S.D., U.S.A. and of any subdivisions is responsible for the presentation of its official policies under the direction of the NC and such publications shall receive the approval of their responsible editors, organizational set-up and policies from the NC.
Section 4.
(Line 115) The NC shall make provisions for adequate presentation of various points of view within the S.D., U.S.A., through an internal discussion bulletin to be known as Hammers & Tongs.
(Line 116) This constitution may be amended by majority vote of a national convention or by majority vote of a national referendum as provided herein.