Serving as the original mandate for the nation, the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution outlines the government’s obligations to its people:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, secure the Blessings of Liberty, to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.“
When socialists talk about improving the material conditions for all the people, we’re talking about ending food insecurity, ensuring home ownership, providing Medicare for All (M4A), and subsidized education. Basically, we want to “Promote the general Welfare.”
Reading theory and understanding the news are essential first steps, but historical change only happens through organized, collective action.
The organizations below represent different tendencies within the socialist movement. We recommend researching their platforms, finding which one aligns with your principles, and showing up to a local chapter meeting.
Party for Socialism & Liberation
A Marxist-Leninist party dedicated to revolutionary socialism, anti-imperialism, and the liberation of the working class.
Democratic Socialists of America
The largest socialist organization in the U.S., dedicated to organizing working people to achieve democratic socialism and build independent working-class power.
Working Families Party
A grassroots, multiracial party of working people fighting for an economy that works for the many, not the few.
Green Party
An independent political party connected to American social movements, focusing on ecology, nonviolence, and social justice.
What to Expect at Your First Meeting
Showing up for the first time can be intimidating, but every organizer was once a beginner. Whether you are organizing a tenant union in Brooklyn, rallying in Chicago, or joining a reading group right here in Portland, local action is where the real work happens. Expect to be welcomed, expect to learn, and expect to be put to work.