Info about the Southern Dane County Branch of MADSA will go here.

Bylaws

Passed on 12/10/2025

ARTICLE I. Name, Territory, and Purpose

Section 1. Name

The Local Branch will be the Southern Dane County Branch of the Madison Area Democratic Socialists of America (MADSA), hereinafter referred to as “the Branch,” “the Southern Dane County Branch,” “MADSA SDC,” or “the SDC.”

Section 2. Territory

MADSA SDC shall conduct activities in the areas of Verona, Fitchburg, southwestern Madison, and the surrounding rural area of Dane county.

Section 3. Purpose

The MADSA SDC seeks to have a tighter focus on electoral, organizing, and educational initiatives in the Verona and Fitchburg areas, while also functioning as an accessible in-person meeting venue for suburban and rural MADSA members.

The Branch will act in accordance with decisions made by the membership of MADSA. The Branch will work to deliver the agenda of MADSA working groups and committees within its region such as expanding membership and developing ties to working class institutions. It will coordinate with the working groups and committees to achieve these goals.

Section 4. Function

The Branch will have the power to host publicly announced general meetings under MADSA’s name and digital platform. The Southern Dane County Branch may publicly advertise their general meetings and MADSA-endorsed chapter events within its jurisdiction. SDC may also build social ties and work with politicians and working-class organizations to fulfill the stated campaign goals of MADSA-endorsed working groups, campaigns, committees, and coalitions.

ARTICLE II. Membership

Section 1. Definition

Membership of the MADSA SDC branch shall be defined by Article III, Section 1 of the National DSA Constitution and residence in the territory described by the Madison DSA charter granted by National DSA, and/or reside in or around the areas of Fitchburg, Verona, and the Southwestern Madison area. Individuals may not be members of MADSA SDC without being members in good standing of the National DSA and Madison Area DSA (MADSA).

The membership list of the Branch shall be stored electronically and securely. This list can be accessed by the Branch chair and will be available to members of the MADSA Executive Committee.

Section 2. Branch Leadership and Representation to the Steering Committee

Any election process or officer duties adopted shall be null and void if they conflict with Madison DSA or National DSA bylaws and policies.

MADSA SDC shall elect two Co-Chair Branch representatives upon the approval of the Branch charter at the MADSA General Meeting. This election will take place at the first meeting of the MADSA SDC after approval of these bylaws.

Branch representatives shall thereafter be nominated and elected by the Branch membership in the same election cycle as the Local Chapter Convention, by the rules prescribed in Article V, Section 2.

The Branch shall strive for equitable representation, per the requirement in MADSA bylaws Article IV, Section 1, in its selection of Representatives.

The Branch shall develop a five-person steering committee in the event that the average number of members attending meetings in a three month period meets or exceeds twenty individuals. This will consist of the co-chairs, a representative of the branch for the MADSA Executive Committee, and two at-large representatives elected at the following Branch meeting after reaching this membership requirement.

ARTICLE III. Dissolution and Recall

Section 1. Branch Dissolution

The Branch may have its status revoked by a majority vote of the MADSA membership at a General Meeting. The Branch may also choose to dissolve itself by means of a two-thirds vote of members at a Branch meeting.

Upon dissolution, any and all assets of the Branch shall be given to MADSA.

Section 2. Recall of Branch Representative

In order to recall or remove a Branch Representative, a member of MADSA in good standing as defined by Article II, Section 1, must formally refer a request to the Executive Committee to remove said Representative. The Executive Committee will work with the Branch Representatives to set a date for a Branch Meeting for deliberations on the accused Representative’s removal.

The Branch Representative in question must receive written documentation of the specific reasons for the removal request and notice of the meeting a minimum of two weeks before the meeting takes place.

The accused Branch Representative will be given a chance to speak in their own defense at this meeting. Removal of a Branch Representative requires a two-thirds vote of Branch members at a Branch Meeting.

A Branch Representative may also be removed by a majority vote by the MADSA Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV. Amendment of Bylaws

Section 1. Amendment of Bylaws

Proposed amendments to these bylaws must be made by written resolution, endorsed by ten (10) members in good standing of the MADSA SDC Branch, and submitted to the Executive Committee at least twenty-one (21) days in advance of both Chapter and Branch regular meetings or conventions.

The Executive Committee is required to provide MADSA SDC Branch members with at least ten (10) days of physical or electronic notice of the proposed amendments. A MADSA SDC Branch Meeting may adopt amendments to these bylaws proposed under this article by a two-thirds (⅔) vote. No amendment to these Bylaws may be in conflict with the National DSA Constitution and Bylaws, or MADSA Constitution and Bylaws.