The United States Constitution (Article 1, Section 5)U.S. Constitution Online, Article 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.CRS Report For Congress
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. 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 YearRepresentativePartyStateVote countReason1861DemocraticMissouri94–45Supporting Confederate rebellion.Kentucky1980Pennsylvania376–30Convicted of bribery in the Abscam scandal.2002Ohio420–1 (with 9 "present")Convicted on ten counts including bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States, corruption, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, and racketeering. 2023RepublicanNew York311–114 (with 2 "present")Findings of fraud and misuse of campaign funds by the House Ethics Committee.
Censured representatives YearRepresentativePartyStateVote countReason1832National RepublicanOhio93–44Insulting the Speaker of the House.1842Whig125–69Introducing an anti-slavery resolution deemed to be incendiary, and violation of the gag rule prohibiting discussion of slavery.1856DemocraticSouth Carolina106–96Assisting in the caning of Charles Sumner.1864Maryland98–20Making statements in support of the Confederate rebellion.Ohio80–701866New York72–30Insulting the House with a resolution containing unparliamentary language.Unconditional UnionistKentucky89–30Assaulting Rep. Josiah Grinnell on the floor of the House.1867DemocraticNew York77–33Using unparliamentary language.1868114–391869Idaho Territory1870RepublicanSouth Carolina187–0Selling military academy appointments.North Carolina170–0Tennessee158–01873Massachusetts182–36Involvement in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal.DemocraticNew York174–321875Kentucky161–79Using unparliamentary language.1890Indiana126–1041921Texas293–01979Michigan414–0Payroll fraud and mail fraud.PennsylvaniaBribery 1980Californiavoice voteImproper use of campaign funds.1983RepublicanIllinois420–3Engaging in sexual conduct with a House page.DemocraticMassachusetts421–32010New York333–79Improper solicitation of funds, making inaccurate financial disclosure statements, and failure to pay taxes.2021RepublicanArizona223–207 (with 1 "present")Posted an anime video on social media depicting himself committing violence against Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and President Joe Biden.2023DemocraticCalifornia213–209 (with 6 "present")Making allegations regarding Russian collusion in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the first impeachment of Donald Trump.Michigan234–188 (with 4 "present")Comments related to the Gaza war.New York214–191 (with 5 "present")Pulling the fire alarm in one of the Capitol office buildings under non-emergency circumstances.2025Texas224–198 (with 2 "present")Disrupting Donald Trump's joint session address. 2026RepublicanNorth Carolina413–2Inappropriate conduct and behavior with female staffers.
Reprimanded representatives YearRepresentativePartyStateVote countReason1976DemocraticFlorida381–3 (with 5 "present")Use of office for personal gain.David E. Rosenbaum, House Reprimands Sikes For Financial Misconduct, New York Times (July 30, 1976).1978California328–41 (with 29 "present")Role in South Korean influence-buying scandal.Richard L. Lyons, House Censures Rep. Wilson of California, Washington Post (June 11, 1980).Charles R. Babcock, House Votes Reprimands for Roybal, McFall and Wilson, Washington Post (October 14, 1978).Voice voteRole in South Korean influence-buying scandal.Adam Bernstein, 11-Term Rep. John J. McFall, Washington Post (March 15, 2006).Role in South Korean influence-buying scandal.1984RepublicanIdaho354–52 (with 6 "present")False statements on a financial disclosure form.To Adopt the Report of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct in the Matter of George v. Hansen. (Motion Passed), July 31, 1984.1987DemocraticPennsylvania324–68 (with 20 "present")Allowed another person to cast his vote, and misused House funds.Julie Johnson, House Votes to Reprimand Lawmaker for Misconduct, New York Times (December 19, 1987).1990Massachusetts408–18Used 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.Richard L. Berke, House, 408 to 18, Reprimands Rep. Frank for Ethics Violations, New York Times (July 27, 1990).1995RepublicanCaliforniaVoice voteCriticism 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.1997Georgia395–28 Use of a tax-exempt organization for political purposes, and providing false information to the House Ethics Committee.Adam Clymer, House, in 395-28 Vote, Reprimands Gingrich, New York Times (January 22, 1997).2009South Carolina240–179 (with 5 "present")Making an outburst towards President Barack Obama during a speech to a joint session of Congress.H.Res.744 – Raising a question of the privileges of the House, 111th Congress (September 15, 2009).2012DemocraticCaliforniaVoice voteCompelling her congressional office staff to work for her 2010 election campaign and perform personal errands; also fined $10,000.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). 2020RepublicanArizonaPermitting his office to misuse taxpayer funds and various violations of campaign finance reporting requirements, federal law and House rules.2025DemocraticIllinois236–186 (with 4 "present")Withdrawing from reelection several hours prior to the filing deadline, effectively handing the Democratic nomination to his chief of staff.
Excluded representatives-elect
YearRepresentative-electPartyStateDetails1899Brigham Henry RobertsDemocraticUtahDenied seat for his practice of polygamy.1919Victor L. BergerSocialistWisconsinDenied seat on basis of opposition to World War I and conviction under the Espionage Act; the Supreme Court later overturned the conviction.1920After 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 1921.1967Adam Clayton Powell Jr.DemocraticNew YorkMismanaging his committee's budget in previous Congress, excessive absenteeism, misuse of public funds."1967 Year In Review, UPI.com" 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: List of American state and local politicians convicted of crimes
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