Detroit DSA 2026 Convention Rules

There are currently no rules published yet for 2026. Currently we are basing these off the rules proposed for the 2025 convention.

METRO DETROIT DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA

Local Convention May 31st, 2025

CONVENTION RULES

Note on process: per the One Member One Vote Resolution passed by the membership, these rules are recommended by the LPC to the Steering Committee, approved by a vote of the Steering Committee on Sunday, March 16th, and are submitted to the membership for ratification via at the convention itself. Once the membership ratifies these rules, they shall govern the 2025 convention.

A) Organization of the Convention
  1. The Steering Committee is officially responsible for organizing the convention in coordination with the Logistics and Planning Committee (LPC)
  2. The Co-Chairs of the Chapter shall serve as the Chair of the Convention, rotating as needed, subject to approval of the Body, and may appoint such assistants or replacements as they deem necessary. The Secretary of Metro Detroit DSA shall serve as Secretary to the Convention, keeping the official record of the Convention, and may appoint such assistants as they deem necessary.
  3. The Logistics and Planning Committee, working in coordination with the Steering Committee, shall:
    1. manage all submitted by-laws amendments, resolutions, and the amendments to resolutions. They shall work to reconcile any submissions that are out of order or beyond the scope or powers outlined in the MD-DSA and DSA bylaws. The Logistics and Planning Committee shall also work with sponsor(s) who submit similar or overlapping submissions in the interest of developing a single mutually agreeable submission for all sponsors. The LPC may propose steps to facilitate consideration of resolutions, including but not limited to appointing small groups to redraft or combine resolutions, preferably in advance of the convention, and in consultation with the sponsors. The LPC will structure the order in which resolutions are to be considered, the time allotted to each, and the number of speakers pro and con.
    2. coordinate logistics and develop a final schedule for the Convention, pending approval from the Convention itself.
    3. appoint a Styles Commission, which shall have the power to rewrite any resolution or bylaws amendments passed by the Convention to make it consistent with the style of the document being amended (i.e. implementing gender neutral language, changing the order of sentences, etc.). The Styles Commission may not make any substantive changes to resolutions or amendments passed by the Convention that change their final meaning or interpretation. The Styles Commission will be comprised of members appointed by the Steering Committee and the authors of all bylaws amendments that were passed by the Convention.
B.) Delegate Credentials
  1. All members in good standing of the Metro Detroit Democratic Socialists of America local that have been a member in good standing within the past 1 year before May 31st 2025, and are current in dues on the day of convention are eligible to vote and fully participate in the convention. Any members who have been in good standing within a year of the local convention will have the option to renew their dues to participate in this year’s convention.
  2. Delegates will be encouraged to register in advance, but there will be an option to register prior to the session on May 31st 2025.
C.) General Procedure
  1. Each session of the Convention has pre-established time limits. The only exception to the established time limits would occur if there is a motion to extend the time approved by the majority of the delegates. Any such motion to extend the time must include a corresponding reduction of time for another session. At the end of each session, the document presented and amendments, if any, shall be voted up or down. Amendments shall be voted first; the document as amended will then also be voted up or down.
  2. If two or more resolutions or by-laws amendments are submitted that pertain to a substantially similar subject, and it is determined by the LPC/SC that such motions directly contradict one another such that the Body could not pass and implement both resolutions, then such resolutions will be voted on in an A or B manner with the Convention delegates voting between the resolutions. Amendments to one or both motions will be still be considered before and decided upon by the body before the question of the main motions is considered.
  3. Except as provided in our Bylaws and these Rules, the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Convention. Where they disagree, Our Bylaws shall have precedence, followed by these Rules and then Robert's Rules of Order. The Chair of each Convention plenary session shall be the sole interpreter of the Convention Rules and may consult the parliamentarian and such other assistants as needed to conduct the session. Any delegate may appeal any ruling of the Chair to the Convention. The ruling of the Chair may be overturned by a vote in favor of the appeal by a majority of delegates present and voting.
    1. Procedural motions concern how to proceed with a matter such as moving to refer the matter to the Steering Committee or moving to extend or end discussion. Procedural motions may be made at the Convention. In order to be voted on, a procedural motion needs a second. If no other delegate seconds the motion, the motion fails.
    2. Substantive motions concern amendments to the content of Convention documents. No amendments will be allowed from the floor at this Convention as the time limits for amendments are established as part of the organization of the Convention and explained in emails regarding the Convention and on the Convention explainer on the website. Amendments received by the Convention committee at the required times will be part of the discussion of that Convention document.
    3. Point of Personal Privilege — a seated delegate may raise a point of personal privilege at any time. A point of personal privilege pertains only to issues of personal discomfort or needs such as not being able to hear the speaker, etc.
  4. Only delegates may speak on questions coming before the Convention in plenary session. Speakers on all motions shall be limited to two minutes, unless the Convention accepts a different limit.
  5. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote on all questions coming before the Convention. All questions before the Convention shall be decided by majority vote of the delegates present and voting, except the election of chapter officers which will be conducted via electronic vote open for 72 hours once sent out within 48 hours of the close of the convention. All procedural motions shall require a majority vote except where otherwise provided in the Rules. A motion to suspend the rules shall require a two thirds vote.
  6. Any amendment or resolution that is to be considered will be motivated by its author(s) for no more than 5 minutes. Then a certain number of speakers will be heard for and against, the number to be determined by the Chair based on the amount of time remaining in the session. Generally the Chair will default to 2 speakers for and 2 against, each speaking for 2 minutes. Each amendment will be considered separately, one after another.
  7. All voting will be through OpenSlides, except as specified above, with a backup option of raising of voting cards. The Chair of the Convention session shall determine the results of hand votes and report the results to the Convention Secretary as well as announcing it to the convention session. A vote will be recounted at the request of any delegate, or if in the judgment of the Chair it is warranted due to closeness of the initial count. The Chair shall appoint such tellers as needed to assist in the counting of the vote.
  8. Roll call votes shall be conducted at the request of thirty percent of the delegates present and voting, and shall consist of a recorded vote by delegation.
D.) Resolution & By-Law Amendment Requirements
  1. Proposed resolutions require a sponsor plus 15 co-sponsors to be considered for addition to the agenda. Proposed amendments to any item added to the agenda also require 15 co-sponsors, in addition to the sponsor.
  2. Proposed by-laws amendments, per the by-laws, require a sponsor plus 10 co-sponsors for addition to the agenda.

Made with by human Metro Detroit DSA comrades