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
Labor
Chair: Steve Rossignol
Statement of Purpose: Our basic interest as a commission is to promote the views of progressive and radical labor organizing and support within the Socialist Party USA.
Contact: bigreddog23 @ gmail.com
Environmental
Chair: Justin Simons
Statement of Purpose
Contact:
Radical Democratic Education & Social Struggle
Chair: K.S. Liberato
Statement of Purpose: The overarching purpose of this commission is to facilitate critical engagement between official or unofficial representative individuals of different Socialist Party USA tendencies for the purpose clarifying, defining, and conceptualizing central ideas and terms in the party’s critique of capitalist society. For example, different philosophical perspectives may understand “capitalism” in different ways. Some see it as an economic system, while others see it as a system based on patriarchy, racism, and class exploitation. Such a commission aims to bring together the various perspectives and experiences within the party to help create a thorough, a dynamic, and a unified understanding of the struggles we as a movement organization are engaged in. This commission aims to help us articulate a unique Socialist Party USA perspective on Democratic Socialism/Radical Democracy. Such a commission may develop collaborative projects that examines and critiques past Left movement in the U.S. and elsewhere. The commission would also look to current social struggles to gain insights from the ways people are engaged in struggle against various forms of oppression, and to ultimately work towards an activist framework that can help us participate in different social struggles. Ideally, over time this commission would bring forth proposals that reflect such a critical dialogue among party members, so that they might be considered by the broader membership. Below is a very rough idea of some topics that might be examined as part of a project. The list should change as people bring their own interests in for discussion. 1. Labor & the Left in the U.S. 2. Third World Perspectives in Socialism & Democracy 3. Perspectives in Social Struggle & Liberation: Feminism, Marxism, Social Anarchism, Black Radicalism, etc.
Contact: k.s.liberato @ gmail.com
Inactive Commissions(have not reported)
Religion and Ethics Commission
Chair:
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.
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
Women's 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.
Contact: 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.
Rules on Commission Decision Making
updated June 2013
1) The convener/chair 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.
2) 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.
3) Any statements proposed or drafted by a Socialist Party USA Commission must be formally submitted to the National Office so they may be reviewed by the NC or NAC for possible approval. Statements cannot be published as official statements of the Socialist Party USA outside of this process. All statements submitted to the National Office will be forwarded to the NC or NAC within thirty (30) days.
Currently Chartered Commissions
Labor
Chair: Steve Rossignol
Statement of Purpose: Our basic interest as a commission is to promote the views of progressive and radical labor organizing and support within the Socialist Party USA.
Contact: bigreddog23 @ gmail.com
Environmental
Chair: Justin Simons
Statement of Purpose
Contact:
Radical Democratic Education & Social Struggle
Chair: K.S. Liberato
Statement of Purpose: The overarching purpose of this commission is to facilitate critical engagement between official or unofficial representative individuals of different Socialist Party USA tendencies for the purpose clarifying, defining, and conceptualizing central ideas and terms in the party’s critique of capitalist society. For example, different philosophical perspectives may understand “capitalism” in different ways. Some see it as an economic system, while others see it as a system based on patriarchy, racism, and class exploitation. Such a commission aims to bring together the various perspectives and experiences within the party to help create a thorough, a dynamic, and a unified understanding of the struggles we as a movement organization are engaged in. This commission aims to help us articulate a unique Socialist Party USA perspective on Democratic Socialism/Radical Democracy. Such a commission may develop collaborative projects that examines and critiques past Left movement in the U.S. and elsewhere. The commission would also look to current social struggles to gain insights from the ways people are engaged in struggle against various forms of oppression, and to ultimately work towards an activist framework that can help us participate in different social struggles. Ideally, over time this commission would bring forth proposals that reflect such a critical dialogue among party members, so that they might be considered by the broader membership. Below is a very rough idea of some topics that might be examined as part of a project. The list should change as people bring their own interests in for discussion. 1. Labor & the Left in the U.S. 2. Third World Perspectives in Socialism & Democracy 3. Perspectives in Social Struggle & Liberation: Feminism, Marxism, Social Anarchism, Black Radicalism, etc.
Contact: k.s.liberato @ gmail.com
Inactive Commissions(have not reported)
Religion and Ethics Commission
Chair:
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.
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
Women's 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.
Contact: 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.
Rules on Commission Decision Making
updated June 2013
1) The convener/chair 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.
2) 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.
3) Any statements proposed or drafted by a Socialist Party USA Commission must be formally submitted to the National Office so they may be reviewed by the NC or NAC for possible approval. Statements cannot be published as official statements of the Socialist Party USA outside of this process. All statements submitted to the National Office will be forwarded to the NC or NAC within thirty (30) days.