Electoral Working Group Charter

As amended and approved at chapter meeting September 9, 2025. Charter is active until 2026 Madison DSA Chapter Convention.

Article I: Name

The name of this group shall be Electoral Working Group, hereafter EWG.

Article II: Scope

  1. The EWG will work to support MADSA’s work in the following areas:
    • Understand the terrain of political, economic, and electoral power at the city, county, state, and federal levels in Wisconsin,
    • Develop a policy platform that confronts obstacles to Working Class power and provides clear material benefits to Working Class people,
    • Support and run openly Socialist candidates for public office built off MADSA developed political platforms,
    • Build MADSA organizational capacity, leadership ability, and membership engagement.
  2. Using these initial strategies the EWG will: 
    • Develop and maintain a document with information on how political, economic, and electoral power is wielded at the city, county, state, and federal level in Wisconsin,
    • Through programs of broad social inquiry identify local issues to build a policy platform that is representative of the concerns of Working Class people, 
    • Establish criteria and processes for the identification and endorsements of political candidates by MADSA,
    • Developing independent electoral organization including but not limited to field/canvassing operation, campaign leadership, and voter data specific to MADSA and MADSA endorsed candidates. 

Article III: Membership and Voting

  1. Participating in the EWG will be open to all MADSA members in good standing. Any membership-related issues are to be brought up to the MADSA Executive Committee. As a body of MADSA, EWG is subject to the Harassment-Grievence process. 
  2. All MADSA members are able to vote at EWG meetings. The EWG will bring any and all resolutions regarding electoral strategy, campaigns, policy platforms, candidates, and candidate endorsements to the full MADSA membership at a General Membership Meeting, to ensure broader chapter buy-in and democratic mandate. EWG can bring strategic resolutions to the Executive Committee if a more timely decision is needed.
  3. A quorum of 5 members is required for the transaction of business at a meeting.
  4. The EWG will keep official records of meeting dates, attendance, and meeting notes, and make them available to general membership.

Article IV: Leadership

  1. EWG shall elect two (2) co-chairs. The co-chairs shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the group, including planning regular meetings, communicating with the MADSA Executive Committee, and ensuring that meeting records are kept. 
  2. Each co-chair shall serve a 1 year term. Chairs are limited to two (2) consecutive one-year terms, but may run for as many terms as they like. 
  3. Elections shall be held at the same General Membership Meeting or Convention at which this charter is approved. If the winning candidates are both cis-males, then the lowest-voted candidate shall be eliminated, repeating as necessary until at least one non-cis-male is elected, unless there are no such candidates.
  4. If there is a co-chair vacancy before the end of the term, an election will be held to fill that vacancy for the remainder of the term at the next General Membership meeting after the vacancy is announced.
  5. Recall of co-chairs shall be conducted through the Executive Committee of MADSA.
  6. Because the co-chair election happens at the same time as charter adoption, there is no need to appoint an acting chair.

Article V: Subcommittees

  1. Working group membership may vote by supermajority (2/3rd) to form subcommittees.
    • Subcommittees, if established, shall have a scope defined by the initial subcommittee proposal vote, shall not exceed the scope outlined in the chartering of the broader working group, and whose scope may be amended by supermajority (2/3rd) vote during a primary working group meeting. Documentation of these decisions must be forwarded to the chapter Executive Committee. 
    • Subcommittees are empowered to meet independently from the rest of the working group and act within their defined scope. Proposals and actions that fall outside the scope of the subcommittee formation shall be referred to the broader working group membership.
    • Disestablishment of subcommittees may be facilitated by a 2/3rd majority vote at a primary working group meeting.
  2. Subcommittees are open and may include any chapter members participating in the working group.
  3. The Electoral Working Group co-chairs shall be responsible for directing the activities of the subcommittees. These co-chairs may also empower a member of the working group to uphold these directorial tasks within the subcommittee on their behalf.
    • The method for selecting subcommittee leadership may be decided at the discretion of the working group co-chairs. 
    • Removal or replacement of a subcommittee leader may be done at the directive of both co-chairs or a majority vote by the working group members at a main working group meeting. 

Article VI: Endorsements and Electeds

  1. EWG is authorized to consider candidates for elected office, offer recommendations to general membership, and work with endorsed candidates and elected officials, carrying out the democratically decided vision of the chapter set via bylaws, resolutions, and other decisions passed by general membership.

Article VII: Finances

  1. EWG requests an initial budget of $750 for operational expenses. EWG will request additional funds for room rental, printing, or other purposes as we deem appropriate.
  2. EWG finances are to be handled through MADSA’s Treasurer and should not be independently managed. Any funds raised by EWG shall be submitted to MADSA’s Treasurer. MADSA’s Treasurer must disperse allocated funds as directed by EWG.

Article VIII: Terms of Charter

  1. To last for 12 months after the adoption of this charter, or until the next MADSA convention, whichever is shorter.
  2. EWG will be governed by the bylaws of MADSA, which describe in detail the operation and leadership selection of Working Groups.
  3. For the duration of this charter, EWG shall be empowered to represent itself as MADSA for issues related to elections and electoral politics, and may create events and promotional material to achieve its ends. Written statements shall be brought to the MADSA Executive Committee for approval.
  4. This charter may be amended by a majority vote of members at a MADSA general membership meeting, or by a 2/3 vote of the MADSA Executive Committee. Amendments to the charter may not extend the expiration date of this charter.