Platforms are updated once every two years on even numbered years. They are written and edited by the State DPW Platform and Resolutions Committee. The public, through county party Platform and Resolutions Committees and delegates at Congressional District Conventions and delegates at State Party Conventions are able to edit and vote on amendments to the Platform.
Resolutions are submitted to and voted on at County Party meetings prior to the CD Conventions every year. Only the top ten, determined by majority vote of County members present during the meeting where Resolutions are heard, edited and voted on, get to go onto the CD Convention, where only the top ten Resolutions, by majority vote of the assembled Delegates at the CD Conventions are allowed to move onto the State Convention.
Resolutions must follow the format starting with a "Whereas" clause and ending with a "Therefore" clause and having no more than 100 words (not including the title). Resolutions must be accompanied by the the name of the author, name of the County or CD Chair, County or CD of origin, and a word count (not including the title or other information not actually part of the Resolution itself.) Examples of properly formatted Resolutions can be viewed in the Resolutions from 2006, 2007 and 2008 under the links to the left.
If there are subject areas that have not been covered by other Resolutions and the topical area is timely and important, delegates may submit floor resolutions to the P&R Committee Chair or designated officer at the State Convention (at a designated place), no later than three hours prior to the convening of the State Convention. The floor resolutions must follow the same formatting requirements as for regular Resolutions and must be submitted with a minimum of 50 copies for distribution among the delegates on the floor of the State
Convention.
At the State Convention, delegates will hear the resolutions and can edit or debate them before a call for a vote on ratification or exclusion from the final approved Resolutions for that year. (Delegates are sent packets from the State HQ in advance of the State Convention, which include the Platform and Resolutions being heard during that year. Delegates are requested to read, and compile proposed edits to the Platform and Resolutions in advance of the meeting so that the meeting can move along quickly since we have limited time available for discussion).
Each Congressional District in Wisconsin has three Representatives on the Committee, (with voting rights), with a term of three years. The terms are staggered so that only one position is up for election at the CD Convention each year.
In addition, there is one Alternate position on the Committee for each Congressional District. This is a non-voting position, unless one of the CD Representatives is not present at a meeting, at which time the alternate can fill in and vote with the same rights and privileges as a CD Representative. This is a one year term which is also an elected position at the CD Conventions.
There are currently eight CDs in Wisconsin, so there are a total of 32 P&R Reps and Alternates on the Committee. There is also a position for a Representative from the College Democrats, and a Representative from the office of the highest ranking Government elected official who is a Democrat.
Officers of the Platform and Resolutions Committee serve a two year term. Elections are held on even numbered years at the earliest meeting of the year prior to the State Convention, for the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair. A Secretary is selected from among the assembled Delegates by the Chair, and ratified by vote from among the assembled P&R Delegates.
The P&R Committee meets about 3-4 times each year (usually at the State HQ in Madison), and has a pre-Convention meeting a few hours prior to the convening of the State Convention to review floor resolutions which have been submitted, and cover other P&R Committee business prior to the floor discussion, debate and voting on that year's Platform and Resolutions.