(Platform/Resolution writing & information classes will be coming soon, in anticipation of the Pierce/Kitsap County Conventions held on April 22, 2018 at 2 PM-stay tuned!)
Platform Information:
(A platform is a statement of principles whereas resolutions are formal expressions of opinion)
Platform/Resolutions Process Overview: During this LD Caucus as well as during County Conventions, you CAN submit resolutions and help influence the Democratic platform. Historically, consideration of platforms and resolutions has been the purview of the County Conventions, although the current rules do allow interested LDs to pass their own platform and resolutions at their LD caucus.
Platform Basics: A public statement of the principles, objectives and policy of a political party. It serves as a body of principles on which a person or group takes a stand in appealing to the public.
An example of a platform statement from the current State Party Platform is as follows:
“Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Forestry
We are the stewards of the land and water that sustains us. We must preserve family farms, strengthen rural communities, ensure the availability of high-quality food and maintain the viability of land and water.”
The values statement may be followed by more detailed and current support statements such as “We call for reduction of antibiotic use in livestock production”.
Resolutions Basics: A formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting by a formal organization, a legislature, a club or other group and calls for specific action to be taken by the organization and/or individuals to which it is directed. For example, the opening and closing lines of WSDCC Resolution 30 state:
“Bankruptcy ‘Reform’ Bill
Whereas the Bankruptcy “reform” bill (S.256) recently passed by the United States Senate would reduce drastically the options for financially distressed Americans to seek Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief;
…
Therefore Be It Resolved that we call on each and every one of our state’s United States Representatives to oppose this legislation and work actively for its defeat.”
Templates
Structural Template For Platform Issues
A platform statement could simply state
We recognize that…
We support…
and be structured similarly to the State Party Platform available here
Structural Template for Resolutions
All resolutions should be drafted in the same manner as the resolution that is titled “Sample Resolution-Tax All Income Equally” Important elements include the following:
1. The resolution headers must contain the following information.
* Name of local party handling the resolution
* Number of the State Platform and Resolutions Subcommittee which will be reviewing the resolution
*Number of the plank in the current State Party Platform under which this resolution falls.
*Two or three brief words summarizing the title of the resolution.
* A sample of a resolution header would read “Skagit-Res—2-05-Tax Equality”
2. The title of the resolution must be clearly and concisely stated at the beginning of the resolution.
3. The resolution must contain at least one “WHEREAS” stating the action or actions to be taken if the resolution is adopted.
4. The resolution must contain at least one “THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED” stating the action or actions to be taken if the resolution is adopted.
5. The resolution must contain the name and contact information of the individual or organization submitting the resolution and the date that it was submitted at the bottom of the resolution. Here’s a sample blank WSDCC resolution template.
- Here’s the WSDCC existing party platform
- Here’s the WSDCC current resolutions process
- Here’s the WSDCC Rules for Resolutions.
For more information: 26thdemocrats@gmail.com
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