The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on whether to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for her criticism of Israel following Hamas’s attack on the country. House Republicans were successful in defeating a motion to kill the resolution earlier in the day. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), accuses Tlaib of spreading false narratives about the Hamas attack and advocating for the destruction of Israel. It specifically mentions Tlaib’s use of the phrase “from the river to the sea,” which is seen as a call for violence to eradicate Israel and establish a Palestinian state. The resolution also cites Tlaib’s statement suggesting that U.S. aid to Israel contributed to the ongoing violence in the Middle East.
A censure is a formal vote of strong disapproval of a member’s conduct taken by either chamber of Congress. If the House approves the censure measure with a majority vote, Tlaib would have to stand in the well of the House while the presiding officer reads the censure resolution aloud. A censure does not have any other legal consequences beyond publicly condemning the member’s behavior. It does not remove a member from Congress or strip them of their rights and privileges within Congress. However, a censure can have a psychological impact on the member and strain their relationships with colleagues. It is a way for the House to express its deep disapproval of a member’s actions without expelling them.
There are three main methods of disciplining a member of the House: expulsion, censure, and reprimand. Expulsion is reserved for the most serious violations and requires a two-thirds majority vote in either chamber. Censure is for more serious violations and requires a majority vote. Reprimand is for serious violations and can be implemented through a committee report or a simple majority vote. Expulsion has been used sparingly throughout history, with only five representatives and 15 senators being expelled.
In the history of the House, 25 lawmakers have been censured, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) earlier this year. The most recent member to be censured was Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) in 2021 for posting a video depicting violence against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and President Biden. The Senate has censured nine of its members since 1789, with the latest being former Sen. David Durenberger (R-Minn.) in 1990 for unethical conduct.
