DSA 2001 Convention Convention Modifies DSA Governance Structure

The DSA Convention amended the Constitution to reduce the size of the National Political Committee to 16 plus a Youth Section representative (17 overall) from 24 plus a Youth Section representative (25 overall) The amendment passed overwhelmingly after another amendment recommended by the convention’s Constitution Committee to make it even smaller (15) failed to meet the required 2/3rds majority by two votes. The amendment to reduce the size of the NPC also modified the election process. Previously the Constitution mandated equal division between men and women on the NPC. The new language guarantees women at least eight of the sixteen positions; people of color are guaranteed at least four of the positions.

Another amendment that was adopted creates the position of a National Chair that the convention would elect. This amendment does not go into effect until the next Convention. The new NPC is empowered to select a National Chair by a super majority if it so chooses.

Nineteen people ran for the sixteen NPC positions elected at the Convention. The winners were:

Theresa Alt (Ithaca), Susan Chacin (Berkeley), Eric Ebel (Ann Arbor), Virginia Franco (San Diego), David Green (Detroit), Gabe Kramer (Columbus), Selina Musuta (Ithaca), Gina Neff (New York City), Angel Picon (Stockton), Maria Pineda (Davis), Kathy Quinn (Philadelphia), Jason Schulman (New York City), Joseph Schwartz (Ithaca), Timothy Sears (Oakland), Jessica Shearer (New York City), and Herb Shore (San Diego).

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