Socialist Party USA... the voice for democratic socialism in the USA



                  
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Socialist Party USA: Commissions
The Party's work is not only done on the state and local level, it is also done within various social movements. For this work, the Party's National Committee established Commissions. All members in good standing are encouraged to get involved in Commission work.

Currently Chartered Commissions
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Religion and Ethics Commission
Chair:
Landon Frim
Statement of Purpose:: The Religion and Ethics Commission affirms peace, equality, justice, inclusion, and ecological integrity. We link the wisdom of our spirituality with political activism. We come from many religious and spiritual traditions, but we are united in rejecting capitalism in all of its exploitative forms. We are unified in our advocacy of socialism and the active creation of a socialist society in our time.
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Guided by the religious, philosophical and spiritual beliefs that nurture us, we honor the sacredness found in people of all races, ages, abilities, sexual orientations, nationalities, faiths, and gender identities. Our commission serves as a source of information and education on behalf of the Socialist Party on faith issues.

Mission Statement
Outreach: To serve as a focal point of dialogue and organization for people from all belief backgrounds who are interested in the active creation of a socialist society in our time
Practice: To mobilize individuals and communities of diverse faith backgrounds for socialist action and to redeem the language, concepts, and communal structures of faith systems for the ends of peace, equality, and justice
Theory: To engage in critical dialogue on the intersection of religious faith, philosophy, and socialism
Website:
http://www.spcore.org
Discussion List: click here

International Commission
Chair: Matthew Andrews
Statement of Purpose:
The International Commission develops relations with democratic socialist parties in other countries. We also seek to initiate relations with anti-authoritarian radicals in other countries.  The International Commission hopes to work on joint projects that cross national boundaries. The International Commission also issues statements for the Socialist Party in support of socialist and left-wing movements around the world.
E-Mail: international@socialistparty-usa.org
Website: http://spusainternational.wordpress.com/


Labor Commission (Re-Organziing)
Contact the National Office
natsec@socialistparty-usa.org if you are interested

Womens Commission
Chair: Angela Sarlay
Mission Statement: The Women's Commission of the Socialist Party USA is dedicated to the principles of socialist feminism and strives to establish a equal society through education, organization, and direct action. We are united by our common belief in the Party's goal of establishing a radical democracy that places people's lives under their own control - a non-racist, classless, feminist society.

We work both inside and outside the party to transcend the patriarchal structures that affect women's ability to reach their full potential. Through our writings, dialogue and actions, we work to educate others, strengthen our own socialist feminist theory and practice, and strengthen feminist processes and practices within the Socialist Party USA. We see ourselves as part of the long history of the feminist movement and as part of the modern struggle for liberation. We strive to create a democratic socialist philosophy that puts the lives of poor and working-class women at the center of our philosophy and actions. We stand in solidarity with our sisters in the US -- and throughout the world -- who are fighting against patriarchy and other forms of oppression.

Without feminism there can be no socialism; and without socialism, feminism cannot achieve the goals it espouses.
E-Mail: asarlay@gmail.com


Commission Guidelines:
* All Party members are strongly encouraged to join a Party Commission
* If it finds merit in the proposal, the National Committee may issue a conditional six month charter and appoint the motivator of the proposal "Interim Convener/Chair"
* Commissions must maintain membership rolls, elect officers and submit minutes of meetings or mail votes to the National Office. The National Committee directs the National Secretary to solicit reports from all existing Commissions. Commissions who do not respond will be de-chartered.
* The National Committee shall review a conditional charter at the end of a 6 months. If the new commission has met the National Committee's guidelines, the commission shall be chartered outright. If it has not, the NC is empowered to renew the conditional charter for 6 more months. The NC may continue to renew conditional charters as many times as it wishes, but if the National Committee ever fails to renew a conditional charter at the end of a 6 month period, the charter shall be null and void.
* All Commissions shall accept YPSL members as voting members at YPSL's request.

Commission conveners/chairs are official Party spokespeople on topics related to their commissions

Rules on Commisison Decision Making
updated June 2010
1)    The convener of each commission shall be elected by the National Committee, and is charged with the responsibility of making sure that each commission remains within the policy guidelines set by the National Convention and National Committee.  The convener shall be tasked with facilitating membership participation in the commission, and shall be empowered to make topical statements to be posted on the Party’s website, and submitted to Party publications, as signed by the convener of that commission.
2)    Commissions may issue statements by majority vote, with a quorum of five commission members voting, convened by the convener having been announced to the entire membership of the commission, on issues of concern to that commission. Such statements shall take precedence over statements from the convener to be posted on the Party’s website, and submitted to Party publications, as having been issued by the commission.
3)    The convener may choose to appeal a vote that lacks a two-thirds majority by referring all proposed statements to the NAC prior to being issued and the NAC would then decide which statement should be issued, or reject both.  In this case, the statement would be posted and printed as a statement from the Socialist Party.  The NAC may only amend Commission statements in order to ensure compliance with Party Principles, the Platform, National Convention and National Committee policies, factual correctness, and topicality.
4)    Commission members must be members in good standing of the Socialist Party USA and be an active participant in the Commission for at least 15 days before she/he can be considered a voting member.


 


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