The United States Constitution (Article 1, Section 5) gives the House of Representatives the power to expel any member by a two-thirds vote. Expulsion of a Representative is rare: only five members of the House have been expelled in its history. ... Only a simple majority vote is required.
Who investigates members of Congress?
The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) of the U.S. House of Representatives is an independent, non-partisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against Members, officers, and staff of the U.S. House of Representatives and, when appropriate, referring matters to the House Committee on Ethics.
Who can discipline a member of Congress?
The United States Constitution (Article I, Section 5, Clause 2) provides that “Each House [of Congress] may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.” The processes for expulsion differ somewhat between the House of ...
Who has the power to expel senators from office?
The United States Constitution gives the Senate the power to expel any member by a two-thirds vote.
Can a member of Congress be removed?
Article I, Section 5, of the United States Constitution provides that “Each House [of Congress] may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.” Since 1789, the Senate has expelled only fifteen of its entire membership.
What does it mean to censure a member of Congress?
Censure is a formal, and public, group condemnation of an individual, often a group member, whose actions run counter to the group's acceptable standards for individual behavior. ... Members of Congress who have been censured are required to give up any committee chairs they hold.
Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government that represents the American people and makes the nation's laws. It shares power with the executive branch , led by the president, and the judicial branch, whose highest body is the Supreme Court of the United States.
Why is Congress given investigatory powers?
Congressional investigations not only help legislators make better policy decisions, but they are central to the system of checks and balances. Investigatory hearings can uncover presidential abuses of power and corruption, such as the Teapot Dome scandal in the 1920s or Watergate in the 1970s.
Is there an ethics committee in Congress?
The U.S. House Committee on Ethics, created in 1967, is unique. ... Under House rules, the Committee has the jurisdiction to administer travel, gift, financial disclosure, outside income, and other regulations; advise members and staff; issue advisory opinions and investigate potential ethics violations.
What is the current annual salary for members of Congress?
The compensation for most Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico is $174,000. These levels have remained unchanged since 2009. Subsequent scheduled annual adjustments were denied by P.L.
What happens if US senator dies?
If a vacancy occurs due to a senator's death, resignation, or expulsion, the Seventeenth Amendment allows state legislatures to empower the governor to appoint a replacement to complete the term or to hold office until a special election can take place. ... Some states require a special election to fill a vacancy.
Who determines how much money a person makes while serving in Congress?
Seeking to narrow state powers over the central government, the Constitution's authors provided that congressional salaries would come from the federal treasury, with Congress setting the actual amount.
What record is kept of congressional proceedings?
The Congressional Record is a record of the proceedings of Congress. It is published daily when one or both chambers of Congress is in session and is available the following morning.
Can Congress declare war?
The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812.
Are filibusters allowed in the house?
At the time, both the Senate and the House of Representatives allowed filibusters as a way to prevent a vote from taking place. Subsequent revisions to House rules limited filibuster privileges in that chamber, but the Senate continued to allow the tactic.
What does it mean when they censure a senator?
Less severe than expulsion, a censure (sometimes referred to as condemnation or denouncement) does not remove a senator from office. It is a formal statement of disapproval, however, that can have a powerful psychological effect on a member and his/her relationships in the Senate.
