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The United States Constitution (Article 1, Section 5)[1] gives the House of Representatives the power to expel any member by a two-thirds vote. Expulsion of a Representative is rare: only six members of the House have been expelled in its history. Three of those six were expelled in 1861 for joining the Confederate States of America.[2]
There are also less severe measures with which the House is authorized to discipline members. Censure and reprimand are procedures in which the House may vote to express formal disapproval of a member's conduct. Only a simple majority vote is required. Members who are censured must stand in the well of the House chamber to receive a reading of the censure resolution.[2] A reprimand was once considered synonymous with censure, but in 1976 the House defined a reprimand as a less severe punishment. Members who are reprimanded are not required to stand in the well of the House and have the resolution read to them.
Representatives can also be censured by their state legislatures and state party.
Expelled representatives
Year | Representative | Party | State | Vote count | Reason | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1861 | John B. Clark | Democratic | Missouri | 94–45 | Supporting Confederate rebellion.[3] | |
John W. Reid | ||||||
Henry C. Burnett | Kentucky | |||||
1980 | Michael Myers | Pennsylvania | 376–30 | Convicted of bribery in the Abscam scandal.[4] | ||
2002 | James Traficant | Ohio | 420–1 (with 9 "present")[5] | Convicted on ten counts including bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States, corruption, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, and racketeering.[6] | ||
2023 | George Santos | Republican | New York | 311–114 (with 2 "present")[a] | Findings of fraud and misuse of campaign funds by the House Ethics Committee.[8] |
Censured representatives
Year | Representative | Party | State | Vote count | Reason | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1832 | William Stanbery | National Republican | Ohio | 93–44[9] | Insulting the Speaker of the House. | |
1842 | Joshua Giddings | Whig | Ohio | 125–69 | Introducing an anti-slavery resolution deemed to be incendiary, and violation of the gag rule prohibiting discussion of slavery. | |
1856 | Laurence M. Keitt | Democratic | South Carolina | 106–96 | Assisting in the caning of Charles Sumner. | |
1864 | Benjamin G. Harris | Democratic | Maryland | 98–20 | Making statements in support of the Confederate rebellion. | |
Alexander Long | Democratic | Ohio | 80–70 | |||
1866 | John W. Chanler | Democratic | New York | 72–30 | Insulting the House with a resolution containing unparliamentary language. | |
1866 | Lovell Rousseau | Unconditional Unionist | Kentucky | 89–30 | Assaulting Rep. Josiah Grinnell on the floor of the House. | |
1867 | John W. Hunter | Democratic | New York | 77–33 | Using unparliamentary language. | |
1868 | Fernando Wood | Democratic | New York | 114–39 | Using unparliamentary language. | |
1869 | Edward D. Holbrook | Democratic | Idaho Territory | Using unparliamentary language. | ||
1870 | Benjamin Whittemore | Republican | South Carolina | 187–0 |
Selling military academy appointments. | |
John T. Deweese | Republican | North Carolina | 170–0 | |||
Roderick Butler | Republican | Tennessee | 158–0 | |||
1873 | Oakes Ames | Republican | Massachusetts | 182–36 | Involvement in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal. | |
James Brooks | Democratic | New York | 174–32 | |||
1875 | John Y. Brown | Democratic | Kentucky | 161–79 | Using unparliamentary language. | |
1890 | William D. Bynum | Democratic | Indiana | 126–104 | Using unparliamentary language. | |
1921 | Thomas L. Blanton | Democratic | Texas | 293–0 | Using unparliamentary language. | |
1979 | Charles Diggs | Democratic | Michigan | 414–0 | Payroll fraud and mail fraud. | |
1979 | Daniel Flood | Democratic | Pennsylvania | Bribery | ||
1980 | Charles H. Wilson | Democratic | California | voice vote | Improper use of campaign funds. | |
1983 | Daniel B. Crane | Republican | Illinois | 420–3 | Engaging in sexual conduct with a House page. | |
Gerry Studds | Democratic | Massachusetts | 421–3 | |||
2010 | Charles Rangel | Democratic | New York | 333–79 | Improper solicitation of funds, making inaccurate financial disclosure statements, and failure to pay taxes. | |
2021 | Paul Gosar | Republican | Arizona | 223–207 (with 1 "present") | Posted an anime video on social media depicting himself committing violence against Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and President Joe Biden.[10][11] | |
2023 | Adam Schiff | Democratic | California | 213–209 (with 6 "present") | Making allegations regarding Russian collusion in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the first impeachment of Donald Trump.[12][13] | |
2023 | Rashida Tlaib | Democratic | Michigan | 234–188 (with 4 "present") | Comments related to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[14] | |
2023 | Jamaal Bowman | Democratic | New York | 214–191 (with 5 "present") | Pulling the fire alarm in one of the Capitol office buildings under non-emergency circumstances.[15] |
Reprimanded representatives
Year | Representative | Party | State | Vote count | Reason | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | Robert L. F. Sikes | Democratic | Florida | 381–3 (with 5 "present") | Use of office for personal gain.[16] | |
1978 | Charles H. Wilson | Democratic | California | 328–41 (with 29 "present") | Role in South Korean influence-buying scandal.[17][18] | |
1978 | John J. McFall | Democratic | California | Voice vote | Role in South Korean influence-buying scandal.[18][19] | |
1978 | Edward Roybal | Democratic | California | Voice vote | Role in South Korean influence-buying scandal.[18] | |
1984 | George V. Hansen | Republican | Idaho | 354–52 (with 6 "present") | False statements on a financial disclosure form.[20] | |
1987 | Austin Murphy | Democratic | Pennsylvania | 324–68 (with 20 "present") | Allowed another person to cast his vote, and misused House funds.[21] | |
1990 | Barney Frank | Democratic | Massachusetts | 408–18 | Used office to fix 33 parking tickets on behalf of a friend and wrote a misleading memorandum on behalf of the friend to shorten his probation for criminal convictions.[22] | |
1995 | Bob Dornan | Republican | California | Voice vote | Criticism of President Bill Clinton as having "[given] aid and comfort to the enemy" during the Vietnam war in a floor speech. Dornan's remarks were stricken from the official record and he was banned from speaking on the House floor for 24 hours.[23] | |
1997 | Newt Gingrich | Republican | Georgia | 395–28 | Use of a tax-exempt organization for political purposes, and providing false information to the House Ethics Committee.[24] | |
2009 | Joe Wilson | Republican | South Carolina | 240–179 (with 5 "present") | Making an outburst towards President Barack Obama during a speech to a joint session of Congress.[25][26] | |
2012 | Laura Richardson | Democratic | California | Voice vote | Compelling her congressional office staff to work for her 2010 election campaign and perform personal errands; also fined $10,000.[27][28] | |
2020 | David Schweikert | Republican | Arizona | Voice vote | Permitting his office to misuse taxpayer funds and various violations of campaign finance reporting requirements, federal law and House rules.[29] |
Excluded representatives-elect
Year | Representative-elect | Party | State | Details | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1899 | Brigham Henry Roberts | Democratic | Utah | Denied seat for his practice of polygamy. | |
1919 | Victor L. Berger | Socialist | Wisconsin | Denied seat on basis of opposition to World War I and conviction under the Espionage Act; the Supreme Court later overturned the conviction. | |
1920 | Victor L. Berger | Socialist | Wisconsin | After being denied a seat the first time, Wisconsin's 5th congressional district reelected Berger in a special election, though Congress again refused to seat Berger, leaving the seat open until 1921. | |
1967 | Adam Clayton Powell Jr. | Democratic | New York | Mismanaging his committee's budget in previous Congress, excessive absenteeism, misuse of public funds.[30] Powell was reelected to the seat for one more term. This exclusion led to a Supreme Court case which held that the exclusion was unconstitutional and that Congress can only exclude members who do not meet the minimum constitutional qualifications for membership. |
See also
- Censure in the United States
- List of federal political scandals in the United States
- List of federal political sex scandals in the United States
Federal politicians:
- List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes
- List of United States senators expelled or censured
State and local politics:
Notes
References
- ^ U.S. Constitution Online, Article 1
- ^ a b CRS Report For Congress Archived July 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "A LOOK BACK; Others Expelled From the House". The New York Times. July 25, 2002. p. A13. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Babcock, Charles R. (October 3, 1980). "Myers Expelled, 376-30". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ Mitchell, Alison (July 25, 2002). "House Votes, With Lone Dissent From Condit, to Expel Traficant From Ranks". The New York Times. p. A13. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ "Traficant guilty of bribery, racketeering". CNN.com. April 11, 2002. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
- ^ Wong, Scott; Gregorian, Dareh; Santaliz, Kate; Stewart, Kyle (December 1, 2023). "House votes to expel indicted Rep. George Santos from Congress". NBC News.
- ^ Tran, Kevin (December 1, 2023). "Republican Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress after scathing fraud allegations". USA Today. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ "List of Individuals Expelled, Censured, or Reprimanded in the U.S. House of Representatives".
- ^ "List of Individuals Expelled, Censured, or Reprimanded in the U.S. House of Representatives | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ Bowden, John (November 18, 2021). "'Absolutely disgraceful': Anger as Paul Gosar shares anime clip showing him killing AOC". Independent. Independent. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ Yilek, Caitlin (June 21, 2023). "House votes to censure Rep. Adam Schiff over Trump investigations". CBS News. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ "House censures Adam Schiff for alleging collusion between Donald Trump, Russia". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ Grisales, Claudia (November 7, 2023). "House votes to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib for Israel-Hamas war comments". NPR. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Ferek, Katy Stech (December 7, 2023). "House Censures Rep. Jamaal Bowman for Pulling Fire Alarm Ahead of Critical Vote". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ David E. Rosenbaum, House Reprimands Sikes For Financial Misconduct, New York Times (July 30, 1976).
- ^ Richard L. Lyons, House Censures Rep. Wilson of California, Washington Post (June 11, 1980).
- ^ a b c Charles R. Babcock, House Votes Reprimands for Roybal, McFall and Wilson, Washington Post (October 14, 1978).
- ^ Adam Bernstein, 11-Term Rep. John J. McFall, Washington Post (March 15, 2006).
- ^ TO ADOPT THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT IN THE MATTER OF GEORGE V. HANSEN. (MOTION PASSED), July 31, 1984.
- ^ Julie Johnson, House Votes to Reprimand Lawmaker for Misconduct, New York Times (December 19, 1987).
- ^ Richard L. Berke, House, 408 to 18, Reprimands Rep. Frank for Ethics Violations, New York Times (July 27, 1990).
- ^ Painin, Eric (January 26, 1995). "REP. DORNAN REBUKED FOR FLOOR TIRADE". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
- ^ Adam Clymer, House, in 395-28 Vote, Reprimands Gingrich, New York Times (January 22, 1997).
- ^ Carl Hulse (September 16, 2009). "House Rebukes Wilson for Shouting 'You Lie'". New York Times.
- ^ H.Res.744 – Raising a question of the privileges of the House, 111th Congress (September 15, 2009).
- ^ John H. Cushman Jr., Democrat Reprimanded for Misusing Staff in Race, New York Times (August 1, 2012).
- ^ John Breshnahan, House reprimands Richardson (August 2, 2012).
- ^ "Rep. Schweikert sanctioned in rare action on House floor". Roll Call. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ "1967 Year In Review, UPI.com"