Abolitionist Working Group Charter

Rechartered: 2026-03-20

Article I: Name

The name of this working group shall be Abolitionist Working Group, hereafter AWG.

Article II: Scope

  1. The purpose of the AWG shall be to fulfill the following objectives:
    1. Work towards decarceration and prison abolition in Wisconsin. 
    2. Work towards police abolition through defunding the police and refunding the community in Madison/Dane County. 
    3. Work to understand the levers of power to effect change on the local level and beyond, especially recognizing that the work of abolition is presently built upon non-reformist reforms.
    4. Work in coalition with other organizations and community members to these ends.
    5. Work to advance our own understanding of an abolitionist horizon by deepening our collective knowledge base to best deprogram how we’ve been taught to see the punishment bureaucracy, rigorously analyzing how our work interfaces within the abolitionist tradition, and committing to conflict transformation within the work we do.
    6. Work to educate MADSA membership and the general public on police and prison abolition. 
  2. The AWG shall report to MADSA and its Executive Committee.
  3. For the duration of this charter, AWG shall be empowered to represent itself as MADSA for issues relating to prison and police abolition and may create events and promotional materials to achieve its ends. Written statements shall be brought to the MADSA Executive Committee for approval.

Article III: Membership

  1. AWG meetings shall be open to all DSA members and community members.
    1. MADSA members are to be considered voting members of AWG.
    2. Non-DSA attendees are invited to participate in meetings but may not vote.
  2. Any membership-related issues are to be brought to the MADSA Membership Coordinator and Executive Committee. 
  3. As a body of MADSA, AWG is subject to the DSA National Grievance Policy, the MADSA Code of Conduct, and the DSA Code of Conduct.

Article IV: Decision Making

  1. AWG will make decisions in a democratic manner. Democratic decision making may follow one or both of two models:
    1. Consensus
      1. Decisions may be made by consensus, meaning that they are discussed until working group members unanimously agree on the current iteration of the action.
        1. Given the centrality of restorative justice to abolitionist praxis, we seek to build skills in dialogue by making decisions as deliberative as practicable.
      2. Consensus decisions may at any time be moved to a vote. 
      3. Consensus may not be considered reached if any single working group member would disagree with or amend a proposal.
        1. Consensus decisions may be tabled and taken up later if a decision is not made.
        2. Decisions may be moved to a vote if consensus cannot be reached.
    2. Voting
      1. Any working group member may call for a vote on any decision. 
      2. A simple majority will suffice for any decision.
      3. Decisions requiring a vote include: (1) co-chair elections, (2) spending of budget, and (3) holding outward-facing events.

Article V: Leadership

  1. AWG shall elect two (2) co-chairs from its membership. The co-chairs shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the group, including ensuring regular meetings and communication between co-chairs and the working group, between the working group and the MADSA Executive Committee, and between the working group and the chapter.
  2. Chairs are limited to two (2) consecutive one-year terms, but may run for as many terms total as they like.
  3. Elections shall be held annually after the adoption or extension of the charter.
  4. If there is a co-chair vacancy before the end of the term, an election shall be held to fill that vacancy for the remainder of the term.
  5. Recall of co-chairs shall be conducted through the Executive Committee of MADSA

Article VI: Finances

  1. For the 2026-2027 Chapter Year, AWG will have a budget of $1000 to use towards working group efforts, including but not limited to: production costs of the podcast we are collaborating with Tone to produce, room rental, printing, event catering, event promotion, and event speaker fees.
  2. If AWG requires funds in excess of $1000, AWG shall request funds from the chapter, subject to the MADSA budget request process and bylaws. 
  3. AWG finances are to be handled through MADSA’s Treasurer and shall not be independently managed. Any funds raised by AWG shall be submitted to MADSA’s Treasurer; funds submitted are not for MADSA general purposes and are to be added to AWG’s ledger. MADSA’s Treasurer shall disperse AWG-allocated funds as directed by AWG.

Article VII: Terms of Charter

  1. To last for 12 months after the adoption of this charter, or until the next MADSA Convention, whichever is shorter.
  2. AWG shall be governed by the bylaws of Madison Area DSA, which describe in detail the operation and leadership selection of Working Groups.