Detroit Democracy Coalition
A Voter’s Guide to Democracy, Education, and Participation in the Metro Detroit DSA Chapter Convention
A Voter’s Guide to Democracy, Education, and Participation in the Metro Detroit DSA Chapter Convention
You joined DSA because you believe regular people, not billionaires, not politicians, not insiders, and not NGOs should have power over the decisions that shape our lives. That same idea applies inside our organization too.
At convention, you’ll vote on resolutions that shape how our chapter works. Some put power directly in the hands of every member, one asks you to hand the keys to 9 people picked from the same group that already runs leadership. Do you want leadership to decide how your chapter works, holding meetings behind closed doors and wielding the power to kick out anyone who disagrees? Or do you want a democratic, participatory chapter that can organize and fight for a socialist vision? We think you should know exactly what each resolution does, in plain language, so you can decide for yourself. We’re upfront: we support the democratic reform resolutions and the political education proposals. We’ll tell you why and show our work.
Date: Saturday April 11th 2026
Time: 9AM - 5PM
Location: UAW Region 1 Hall • 27800 George Merrelli Dr, Warren, MI 48092 US
RSVPAn appointed (by the steering committee) position that will
This is another appointed position that is not decided by membership or answers to membership. We have no idea the qualifications, history, or connections this has in and out of the chapter. They answer only to the Steering Committee not YOU!
THEIR OWN WORDS - FROM THE RESOLUTION TEXT:
"Motion is to approve Jasmine to this position retroactive to Jan 1st and end with other steward terms; this is an appointed position, not elected position; need to clarify that in the proposal"
Appoints a person retroactively into a "pseudo steward" position and gives them power without consulting the membership
We should be allowed to elect all our leadership or representatives. Even in the media!
"Phil rules that bringing new business is out of order, as there is a process laid out in the bylaws for how we agendize items"
This is in response to the request to amend the agenda at the March GM to add time to talk about Iran. While the bylaws state "Members may submit items for inclusion on the agenda no less than ten days prior to the meeting." They are forgetting we as the body approve the agenda and reserve the right to amend it. The above clause specifies how you would guarantee a spot on the agenda. We as the general body can still approve to add a new item to the agenda. This adds fluidity to our meetings and allows us to respond to the tumultuous world around us.
If the Co-chair continues to rule these out of order we have the power to appeal the chair's decision.
Right now, our chapter’s leadership team (called the “Steering Committee” or SC) makes decisions between general meetings. Our bylaws already say members can review those decisions but there’s no process to actually do it. This resolution fixes that.
WHY IT MATTERS: Think of it like a union: the officers run things day-to-day, but the rank and file always have the final say. We don't want to get rid of chapter leaders, we just want them to answer to us. That’s how our bylaws are supposed to work. This makes it real.
When someone brings a resolution to the chapter, this requires them to disclose any personal or professional connection to what they’re proposing. It’s a basic conflict-of-interest rule.
WHY IT MATTERS:Our chapter is growing fast, 1,200+ members. As we attract more attention from candidates and organizations who want our labor and resources, members deserve to know who benefits from what we’re being asked to support.
This limits how long anyone can hold leadership positions and requires the chapter to actively develop new leaders. It follows models used by Chicago DSA and East Bay DSA.
WHY IT MATTERS: Leadership should be a shared responsibility, not a permanent position. When the same small group runs everything year after year, knowledge gets hoarded, burnout sets in, and new members never get a real shot at leading. This opens the door.
Every monthly member meeting will include political education on core socialist topics, things like why we focus on the working class, what racial capitalism means, and why a socialist organization matters. Plus monthly events like movie nights, book clubs, reading groups, and organizing training open to everyone.
WHY IT MATTERS: Democracy doesn’t work without an informed membership. When everyone understands the political ideas behind our work, not just the leaders, the whole chapter gets stronger. Knowledge shouldn’t be a gatekeeping tool. It should be shared.
Ever been in a meeting and felt like people were arguing about something you didn’t fully understand? This resolution creates a 5-session series at monthly meetings to explain the major debates within DSA, different tendencies, strategies, and priorities, so every member can follow the conversation and form their own opinion.
WHY IT MATTERS: Democracy doesn’t work without an informed membership. When everyone understands the political ideas behind our work, not just the leaders, the whole chapter gets stronger. Knowledge shouldn’t be a gatekeeping tool. It should be shared.
Allows us to have a general meeting that puts discussion, education, and participation first. Allow us to respond to the moment of major current events: a crackdown, an escalation, a crisis. Our next member meeting will start with a 30-minute session: two short presentations on the situation, then breakout discussions where members can propose actions. Any group with a plan reports back.
WHY IT MATTERS: People join DSA because they want to fight back against what’s happening right now. If the chapter doesn’t meet that urgency, new members walk. This ensures our meetings respond to the real world and that every member has a voice in how we respond.
THEIR OWN WORDS - FROM THE RESOLUTION TEXT: "any proposed changes to the agenda will be voted on by the general membership at the start of the meeting."
— Resolve clause 3.Note: Restores control of the general meeting to you, the membership.
Right now, every general meeting includes 45 minutes of political education on core socialist topics, why we focus on the working class, what racial capitalism means, socialist feminism, etc. R8 cuts that to "up to" 30 minutes and restricts topics to whatever is "relevant to current events or existing campaign work." Proposing that political education be centered around current chapter endorsed campaigns such as Michigan For The Many and Electoral Campaigns
We are an organization where people come from all walks of life. Some of us are seasoned socialists, others until recently are progressives or liberals. Regardless, we deserve to understand why DSA exists, what capitalism is, and what makes us different—not just briefed on the next campaign. Through political education we become skilled organizers who can think for ourselves, debate with confidence, lead, and be agents of change. This resolution that treats political education as secondary would put your education and skills building as a member at risk.
THEIR OWN WORDS - FROM THE RESOLUTION TEXT:
"The meeting agenda is subject to change at the discretion of the Steering Committee."
— Clause 4 Note: Removes all democratic decision making from chapter members
“The goal of MD-DSA general body meetings shall be to get members involved in ongoing organizing work, with a secondary emphasis on political education and organizing skills trainings;”
— Whereas clause 4 Note: They say it right there. Your political education and development as a member of this chapter is secondary to everything else.
Instead of voting on specific reforms now, the UIAC would create a 9-person commission to spend a year developing a single package of bylaws changes for the 2027 convention. This commission would handle nearly every structural question in the chapter: how we organize by neighborhood, how committees operate, which communication platforms we use, and how we pick priority campaigns.
You joined DSA because deep down, you understand that those affected by decisions should be the ones making those decisions. That’s what separates it from other institutions, like the corrupt and bureaucratic US government. The UIAC flips that. Instead, 1,200 members like us are alienated from the very democratic processes that we’re supposed to own. A new layer of bureaucracy is born with UIAC—a barrier between us and that beating heart of our organization. We’re one chapter with 1,200 members, we don't need a commission to understand our own organization. What we need is to talk to each other, to deliberate together, and to vote—directly, as a body.
THEIR OWN WORDS - FROM THE RESOLUTION TEXT:
"The body may, by majority vote, enter closed session when necessary."
— Section 5
"The Commission shall report to the chapter Steering Committee upon request."
— Section 5. Note: the commission’s primary accountability runs to leadership, not to you.
| Independents (Uncaucused) | Marxist Unity Group (MUG) | Breads & Roses (BnR) |
|---|---|---|
Independents (Uncaucused)
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Marxist Unity Group (MUG)
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Bread and Roses (BnR)
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