Resolution 26-47
Subject: Reforming the HGO Process
Author: Cleary M
Endorsers: Bianca G, Cat L, Lily K, Vivian Y
Status: Passed at the October 24, 2026 General Meeting.
Member statements thread here.
This resolution amends the bylaws and requires a two-thirds vote to be adopted.
Reasoning:
- The current HGO selection system is antidemocratic because it substitutes a random number generator for the will of the general membership. At our January 2027 Chapter Convention, the random sortition process unfortunately resulted in no women being selected as HGOs. The current HGO system does not provide for sufficient diversity and representation of all marginalized groups, and may leave some groups without representation among the HGOs entirely.
- An effective, detailed system of representation cannot be achieved solely through open election, as it must always substitute another quality for raw membership approval. Therefore, appointing at least some HGOs will ensure proper representation. In order to foster trust, the majority of members should approve of the majority of HGOs, and our HGO selection system should promote the selection of HGOs who reflect the diversity of our full membership and the working class broadly.
- Harassment-Grievance Officers (HGOs) are required for all DSA chapters by National DSA to handle complaints of misconduct, harassment, and inappropriate behavior. HGOs are intended to be specialized administrators who conduct independent investigations. HGOs conduct interviews, research incidents and generally investigate allegations of misconduct in order to reach findings of fact and produce recommendations to chapter leadership which are insulated from politics and factionalism. Part of the HGOs’ job is to ensure due process and procedural fairness, ensuring decisionmaking is based on objective facts and is not arbitrary.
Proposed Action:
- Training requirements may be established for candidate nominations for HGO. Training requirements must be recommended by the current HGOs, approved by majority vote of the Steering Committee, and published to members at least one month before they take effect.
Proposed Bylaw Changes
Removed text will be highlighted in RED, while proposed new text will be highlighted in GREEN.
Article IV. Harassment and Grievance Officers (HGOs)
[…]
Section 2. Number of Posts
The Chapter will have at least two HGOs.For every7250 membersin good standingin the Chapter, there shall be 1 HGO, with a minimum of 2 HGOs in totalan additional HGO post will be added. The number of seats shall be announced with the call for the nominations committee.Section 3. Selection
Half of HGO seats (rounded down) will be filled through election by membership vote in conjunction with Steering Committee officer elections. The remaining HGO seats will be appointed by the Steering Committee to ensure diversity and representation among HGOs.
The same nominations committee assembled to solicit nominations for the Steering Committee election shall also solicit nominations for elected HGOs.
Nominees must be endorsed by four Chapter members in good standing, and cannot nominate themselves.The nominations committee will put forward all nominees for approval by majority vote at Convention. If enough submissions are not received to fill all open posts, the Steering Committee will put forward additional nominees.Nominees with majority approval will then be randomly selected to fill the open posts.The candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected, with the highest approved candidates taking the seats in order until all elected seats are filled, provided that candidates must be approved by a majority of voters to take office.Appointed HGOs shall be assigned by a majority vote of the Steering Committee at the first Steering Committee meeting in July. Appointed HGOs must be appointed so as to fulfill the quotas set out by the Representation section below, provided that appointments may not exceed the total number of HGO posts established above in Section 2.
Section 4. Representation
HGOs should include at least one person of color, at least one woman, at least one transgender or nonbinary person, and at least one non-heterosexual person. HGOs should include at least two different people who meet the aforementioned; these cannot all be the same person. In the event the HGOs do not meet these representation requirements, the Steering Committee shall appoint additional interim HGOs as necessary so that the requirements can be met.
[…]
Section
67. Term and RemovalThe term of office will be one year
, and. The term of office for elected HGOs shall run from February 1 to January 31 or until their successors are elected. The term of office for the remaining appointed HGOs shall run from August 1 to July 31 or until their successors are appointed. There is no limit to the number of terms an HGO can serve. HGOs may be recalled for any or no reason by a two-thirds vote at a General Meeting. Any individual that was recalled by membership shall not be eligible for election or appointment to any Chapter office until the next Convention.Section
78. VacanciesIn the event of a vacancy for an elected HGO post,
a new HGO will be selected to fill the vacancy at the next General Meeting taking place at least three weeks after such a vacancy exists.a replacement may be appointed with agreement from both the Steering Committee and the outgoing HGO. If no replacement is appointed within one week after such a vacancy exists, a special election must be held no later than 60 days after such a vacancy exists, for which at least two weeks’ notice shall be provided to members. In the event of a vacancy for an appointed HGO post, the Steering Committee will appoint a replacement within 30 days.The Steering Committee shall arrange for the selection of the new HGO in the same manner as HGOs are otherwise selected.
Proposed Bylaw Text After Changes
Article IV. Harassment and Grievance Officers (HGOs)
[…]
Section 2. Number of Posts
For every 250 members in the Chapter, there shall be 1 HGO, with a minimum of 2 HGOs in total. The number of seats shall be announced with the call for the nominations committee.
Section 3. Selection
Half of HGO seats (rounded down) will be filled through election by membership vote in conjunction with Steering Committee officer elections. The remaining HGO seats will be appointed by the Steering Committee to ensure diversity and representation among HGOs.
The same nominations committee assembled to solicit nominations for the Steering Committee election shall also solicit nominations for elected HGOs. The nominations committee will put forward all nominees for approval by majority vote at Convention. If enough submissions are not received to fill all open posts, the Steering Committee will put forward additional nominees. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected, with the highest approved candidates taking the seats in order until all elected seats are filled, provided that candidates must be approved by a majority of voters to take office.
Appointed HGOs shall be assigned by a majority vote of the Steering Committee at the first Steering Committee meeting in July. Appointed HGOs must be appointed so as to fulfill the quotas set out by the Representation section below, provided that appointments may not exceed the total number of HGO posts established above in Section 2.
Section 4. Representation
HGOs should include at least one person of color, at least one woman, at least one transgender or nonbinary person, and at least one non-heterosexual person. HGOs should include at least two different people who meet the aforementioned; these cannot all be the same person. In the event the HGOs do not meet these representation requirements, the Steering Committee shall appoint additional interim HGOs as necessary so that the requirements can be met.
[…]
Section 7. Term and Removal
The term of office will be one year. The term of office for elected HGOs shall run from February 1 to January 31 or until their successors are elected. The term of office for the remaining appointed HGOs shall run from August 1 to July 31 or until their successors are appointed. There is no limit to the number of terms an HGO can serve. HGOs may be recalled for any or no reason by a two-thirds vote at a General Meeting. Any individual that was recalled by membership shall not be eligible for election or appointment to any Chapter office until the next Convention.
Section 8. Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy for an elected HGO post, a replacement may be appointed with agreement from both the Steering Committee and the outgoing HGO. If no replacement is appointed within one week after such a vacancy exists, a special election must be held no later than 60 days after such a vacancy exists, for which at least two weeks’ notice shall be provided to members. In the event of a vacancy for an appointed HGO post, the Steering Committee will appoint a replacement within 30 days.