Resolution for Achievable Resolutions

Whereas: Some resolutions passed in recent years by the chapter have never been acted on, and many more have not been completed. The 2023 convention resolutions on chapter diversity, membership onboarding, childcare, and medical debt all have significant portions that were never completed. The 2025 resolutions on Bilingual chapter communications and working class social life were also never fully implemented. Many resolutions passed between conventions are in this same state.

Whereas: Resolutions are often aspirational, passed without a clear understanding of how or when they will be implemented, and anticipate conditions that don’t always materialize.

Whereas: Future executive committees do not always review past resolutions to know what work still needs to be completed, and there is not always an effective handover for work that is not actively ongoing.

Whereas: There are no consequences for failure to achieve resolutions and often no individual responsible for achieving them or ensuring that the work continues.

Be it Resolved: That all resolutions should include an impact statement explaining who is responsible for ensuring it gets implemented, pass/fail criteria to determine if it has been completed or should be abandoned, and a clear plan for implementing the proposed changes with a rough estimate of the expected number of hours required. This statement should also include any additional information the author feels may be important for voters to assess the ability of the chapter to achieve the required resolution.

Be it Resolved: The impact statement shall contain two sections, criteria and guidance. Criteria shall be considered part of the binding resolution, and can only be amended by a majority vote of the general body. Guidance shall be non-binding, although significant deviations should be noted and approved by a majority vote of the executive committee.

Impact Statement: Resolution for Achievable Resolutions

Criteria

Expiration: This resolution will be considered void if not implemented within three months of passage.

Pass criteria: This is an ongoing requirement. See the failure criteria.

Fail criteria: If, more than three months after this resolution passes, resolutions are passed at two consecutive GBMs and none of the resolutions which pass at those two GBMs include an impact statement, it will be considered the democratic decision of the chapter for this resolution to be failed and void.

Guidance

To be implemented or delegated by: Chapter Co-chairs

Plan: 

• Within a month of adoption: Update Resolution Writing Guide

• Ongoing: Check for and request impact statements for any resolutions submitted

Anticipated labor: 

• Excomm will need to update all guidance on submitting resolutions and create a sample impact statement.

  • 4 hours

  • Brian Flowers

• Validation of submitted resolutions

  • 1 hour per month

  • Co-chairs

• Preparation of impact statements

  • Variable

  • Resolution authors

Total Cost:

$0
4 hours immediate
1 hour per month ongoing to review resolutions
Potential barrier to members submitting resolutions

Additional Notes: 

This is an example, not a template. Not all sections included here are mandatory for all resolutions.