An Era of Censure: Reviewing the U.S. House's Historic Term

The last twelve months in the U.S. House has gone down in the annals of history. Congresspeople broke benchmarks for the most extended oration and the longest vote, and presided over the lengthiest government shutdown.

Additionally, they allocated significant time attempting to formally criticize one another through censure resolutions, the body's primary tool for disciplinary action. A review of congressional records reveals at least 17 efforts since the start of the year to reproach a colleague via a formal condemnation or a simpler disapproval resolution.

Should a reprimand motion is adopted by a most members, the member in question has to rise before the rostrum as the speaker informs them that they face formal condemnation for their misconduct. This constitutes the actual penalties – they keep their seat and their legislative power, but perhaps not their public image.

Though almost none of these were successful, the flood became so severe that by the conclusion of the session, a cross-party coalition proposed changing the standing orders to raise the threshold for condemnation motions to pass. “What if we end the internal warfare in the House?” inquired one of the bill's sponsors.

Here’s a look at the claimed misconduct at the heart of the flood of condemnation attempts:

Referring to a Person a ‘Derogatory Term’

The earliest condemnation effort of the year came in February against a Democrat congressperson. The proposal charged the member of “provoking aggression against a specific federal appointee”. It cited an event during a committee hearing where the representative made a derogatory comment about the individual in a rather roundabout way, as well as a follow-up remark about employing “actual weapons” to a ideological conflict. The chamber never voting on it.

Shouting at the President

While giving a speech to a joint session of Congress, a member of the opposition representative heckled the nation's leader, exclaiming “the people did not grant him authority” while waving a staff in the air. The Speaker of the House directed that the congressperson forcibly removed. Subsequently, a number of censures were proposed aimed at the lawmaker. A short time after, the House passed one of these resolutions, with some members of the representative's party supporting it alongside the majority party. This remains the only censure to actually win approval during the year.

Resorting to Racial Stereotypes

Only a short time after the aforementioned condemnation, a motion was filed against a congressperson for remarks made about the individual who was reprimanded. The resolution charged the official of using language that was “disparaging, derogatory, and racist toward another fellow lawmaker”. This proposal was not a consideration by the entire body.

Making light of a Official's Physical Condition

One more reprimand effort focused on supposed disrespectful remarks made by a lawmaker about a governor who has been paralyzed. The nicknames were considered highly offensive and resulted in a formal condemnation that also failed to reach a vote.

Incident with Law Enforcement

Multiple reprimand proposals were proposed against a representative after she was arrested and charged following an altercation outside a federal detention facility. One of these resolutions was considered in the House, but was blocked thanks to a combination of one party and a small group of legislators from the sponsor's own party. This signaled the initial instance among many times where members defied party loyalty to stop a reprimand motion.

Allegations of Bigotry

A lawmaker was the subject of two censure resolutions over the warmer months for discriminatory comments made about public figures of color. The posts included insulting labels and calls for deportation. Not one of these resolutions was put up for a vote.

Disparaging a Individual's Legacy

In the wake of a controversial figure's death, a condemnation motion was proposed against a lawmaker for comments that were viewed as “derogatory” toward the late person and those mourning him. For another time, the motion was blocked with the assistance of a handful of representatives from the party that introduced it. One of those who opposed the censure commented that the correct approach to “offensive language” is not censorship, but “more speech”.

‘Subverting the Integrity of a Free and Fair Election’

The flurry of reprimands culminated late in the year when, amid a crucial legislative action, a representative spoke publicly to accuse that a colleague had arranged to step down in a manner to practically guarantee a specific successor would be win his congressional seat. The measure voiced condemnation of this action for “undermining the process of a democratic election”. This resolution generated controversy but was voted into effect, with votes from the majority of the other party and a notable group of members from the complainant's political affiliation.

Exchanging Messages with a Notorious Figure

As a bill to compel the release of official documents related to deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein was approaching a vote, reports emerged that a congresswoman had texted with Epstein while attending a official proceeding. Capitalizing on the situation, the other party lawmakers filed a reprimand motion against the representative. This resolution failed thanks to united opposition from the lawmaker's party and the defections of a few of members from the party that introduced it.

A Broad Spectrum of Claimed Transgressions

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