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List of United States senators expelled or censured
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The United States Constitution gives the Senate the power to expel any member by a two-thirds vote. This is distinct from the power over impeachment trials and convictions that the Senate has over executive and judicial federal officials: the Senate ruled in 1798 that senators could not be impeached, but only expelled, while debating the impeachment trial of William Blount, who had already been expelled. Expulsion has not occurred since the Civil War.
Censure, a lesser punishment which represents a formal statement of disapproval, has been more common since the start of the 20th century. Although censure carries no formal punishment, only one senator (Benjamin R. Tillman) of the nine to be censured has ever been re-elected. Unlike the House of Representatives, which also disciplines by reprimand, a censure is the weakest form of discipline the Senate issues.
Expelled senators
| Year | Senator | Party | State | Reason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1797 | Democratic-Republican Party}}" | Democratic-Republican | Tennessee | |||
| 1861 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Virginia | |||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | |||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | North Carolina | ||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | |||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | nowrap | South Carolina | |||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Tennessee | ||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Arkansas | ||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | |||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Texas | ||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | |||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Kentucky | ||||
| 1862 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Missouri | |||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | |||||
| Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Indiana |
Expulsion proceedings not resulting in expulsion
Many expulsion proceedings have been begun by the Senate that did not lead to expulsion. In most cases, the expulsion failed to secure the necessary two-thirds vote, in other cases the senator in question resigned while proceedings were taking place, and some proceedings ended when a senator died or his term expired.
| Year | Senator | Party | State | Result | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1808 | Democratic-Republican Party}}" | Democratic-Republican | Ohio | Not expelled | ||
| 1856 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Minnesota | Not expelled | ||
| 1862 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Kentucky | Not expelled | ||
| 1862 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Rhode Island | Resigned | ||
| 1873 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | New Hampshire | Term expired | ||
| 1893 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | North Dakota | Not expelled | ||
| 1905 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Oregon | Died during proceedings | ||
| 1906 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Kansas | Resigned | ||
| 1907 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Utah | Not expelled | ||
| 1919 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Wisconsin | Not expelled | ||
| 1922 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Michigan | Resigned | ||
| 1924 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Montana | Not expelled | ||
| 1934 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Louisiana | Not expelled | ||
| 1942 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | North Dakota | Not expelled | ||
| 1982 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | New Jersey | Resigned | ||
| 1995 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Oregon | Resigned | ||
| 2011 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Nevada | Resigned |
Censured senators
| Year | Senator | Party | State | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1811 | Federalist Party}}" | Federalist | Massachusetts | ||
| 1844 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Ohio | ||
| 1902 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | South Carolina | ||
| 1929 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Connecticut | ||
| 1954 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Wisconsin | ||
| 1967 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Connecticut | ||
| 1979 | Democratic Party (US)}}" | Democratic | Georgia | ||
| 1990 | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | Minnesota |
References
Sources
References
- Brockell, Gillian. (January 5, 2021). "The senators who were expelled after refusing to accept Lincoln's election". [[The Washington Post]].
- "Senate historical minutes". U.S. Senate.
- . (1942-03-27). ["TO PASS THE SECOND BRANCH OF S. RES. 220, WHICH STATES, "THAT WILLIAM LANGER IS NOT ENTITLED TO BE A SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA.""](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/77-1942/s120).
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