Clarion University of Pennsylvania Young Democratic Socialists of America
CONSTITUTION

Commented [EH1]: Overall good constitution, take a look
at the revisions posted, especially the missing required
paragraph from the mock bylaws near the bottom.

ARTICLE I NAME AND AFFILIATION
1. The name of the organization shall be Clarion Young Democratic Socialists of America,
hereafter referred to as “the Chapter”.
2. The Chapter shall be the Clarion, Pennsylvania chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of
America, the youth wing of Democratic Socialists of America
ARTICLE II PURPOSE & MISSION STATEMENT
1. Our mission is to educate and organize students and young people and to play a helpful
and principled role in the movement for social justice. Within and throughout this
struggle, we will articulate and defend the idea that true human liberation is impossible
under capitalism. We seek social change which extends democracy into all aspects of life -social, political and economic. This is the struggle for democratic socialism. Our vision of
socialism is profoundly democratic, feminist, environmentally conscious, and anti-racist.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership in the organization shall be open to any member of the campus
community, including students, faculty, and staff, at Clarion University of
Pennsylvania.
2. Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer positions in this
organization may not be limited on the basis of race, sex, gender, religion, national
origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, ancestry, or medical condition.
3. Members who repeatedly create an uncomfortable environment for other members (and
ignoring disciplinary efforts) or who fail to regularly attend meetings without
communicating with the Central Committee will be dismissed from the Chapter.
ARTICLE IV CENTRAL COMMITTEE & DUTIES
1. The Central Committee shall be composed of two (2) Co-Chairs, one (1) ViceChair one (1) Secretary, one (1) Treasurer.
2. Candidates will nominate themselves the night of the election, but may announce their
candidacy at any point beforehand.
3. Elections shall occur during either the first or second meeting of the semester.
4. All elections shall be first-past-the-post.
a. In the event that no candidate reaches a majority, a runoff will take place between
the candidates with the highest vote totals immediately afterwards.
b. In the event of a tie, successive votes will be held until a winner is determined.
5. The term of Central Committee shall last one semester. Vacancies shall be filled either
by appointment or snap election at the Central Committee’s discretion.
6. Central Committee members may be subject to recall by petition with three (3) signatures.
Submission of such a valid petition shall trigger a recall election to be held no later than 30
days from receipt of that petition by the Central Committee. The meeting for a recall vote
shall be properly noticed to the membership.
7. The duties of the co-Chairs shall be:
a. To facilitate meetings
b. To reserve space for meetings, events, and tabling
c. To communicate with national YDS representatives
d. To attend any university functions mandatory for organization presidents
e. To fill in for other officers when necessary
f. To write weekly updates to send via email to everyone on the organization’s email
list

Commented [EH2]: Should list reasons for a member
being dismissed/membership removed

8. The duties of the Vice-Chair shall be to assist in the duties of the co-Chairs or to fulfil them
in the event of absence of both co-Chairs.
9. The duties of the Secretary shall be:
a. To take minutes at general meetings
b. To send meeting minutes to everyone on the organization’s email list with twentyfour (24) hours.
c. To maintain a list of active members and build an email list.
10. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
a. To manage any funds of the organization
b. To fill out supplemental requests and budget forms when necessary
c. To serve as lead organizer for one (1) fundraiser during their term

Commented [EH3]: Supplemental requests and budget

ARTICLE V FUNDING
1. The organization shall be funded through the following means: fundraisers, chapter
dues, contributions and scholarships from Democratic Socialists of America, and any
approved financial assistance, supplemental requests, and budgets granted by the
student senate.
2. All money transactions must be approved by the Treasurer, with the advice and consent of
the Central Committee.
3. The Central Committee shall maintain a record of all financial transactions and accounts.
These records shall be made available at any time by the request of any YDSA national
officer and will be reported regularly to the membership of the Chapter.
ARTICLE VI MEETINGS
1. Regular meetings of the organization shall be held weekly. The day of the week and time
will be determined at the beginning of every semester.
2. Special meetings may be called by the Central Committee. Votes and elections may not
occur at such meetings.
3. Agendas for meetings shall be prepared by the Central Committee and will be available at
the request of members before a meeting.
4. A quorum for any regular or special meeting shall be three quarter (¾) of total members
present at the previous general meeting.
ARTICLE VII POWERS
1. The Chapter shall have committees created if deemed necessary by membership. The
formation of such committees shall be approved by a majority vote of the membership at a
regular meeting.
2. The Chapter shall operate as a non-profit association and no profits may accrue to any
individual within the organization.
3. Unless otherwise provided in these bylaws, decisions of the organization shall be made by
a simple majority of those present and voting, with those abstaining from the vote not
figuring into the determination of the majority required.
4. For purposes of any vote, the determination of the current eligible voting membership
shall be private ballot (likely a folded index card or piece of paper). Votes will be
counted immediately by the Central Committee in the presence of members.
5. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised
shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are
not inconsistent with this Constitution or the Bylaws or standing rules of the
organization.
ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Commented [EH4]: Student senate
Commented [EH5]: Supplemental requests and budgets
should be included here

1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a two-thirds
vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing to the Central
Committee at the previous regular meeting. All changes to the bylaws must be approved
by the Student Senate, the Vice President of Student Affairs, and the President of Clarion
University.
2. These bylaws, and their amendments, shall become effective upon ratification by the
members of the Chapter and following the approval of the Student Senate of Clarion
University of Pennsylvania, the Vice President for Student & University Affairs, and the
President of Clarion University.
ARTICLE IX SAFE SPACE
1. This organization shall aim to be a safe space for a person of any oppressed (traditionally
marginalized and lacking in representation) group.
2. Members who repeatedly engage in micro-aggressions or outright hostility towards other
members due to their association with an oppressed group are subject to temporary ban or
expulsion at the discretion of Central Committee members not personally involved in said
offences.
3. Members should keep an open mind and be sensitive towards other members when
confronted on behaviors which, either conscious or unconsciously, make others
uncomfortable for any reason.

Commented [EH6]: This needs to include the second
paragraph under article 8 in the mock bylaws. As well as the
entire article 9 in the mock bylaws.