what does it mean to censure a congressman

Censure is a formal, public declaration of disapproval by a legislative body towards one of its members. In the United States Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate possess the authority to discipline their members through various means, including censure, reprimand, and expulsion. While censure does not remove a member from office, it serves as a significant rebuke that can tarnish a legislator’s reputation and influence.

Constitutional Basis for Censure

Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution grants each chamber of Congress the power to “punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.” This provision underpins the authority of both the House and the Senate to discipline their members. Censure, sometimes referred to as condemnation or denouncement, is one such disciplinary measure. It is a formal statement of disapproval adopted by a majority vote.

Procedures and Implications of Censure

In the House of Representatives, a censured member is typically required to stand in the well of the chamber while the Speaker reads the censure resolution aloud. This public admonishment is intended to highlight the severity of the misconduct and serves as a deterrent to other members. Unlike expulsion, which necessitates a two-thirds majority and results in the removal of a member from office, censure is primarily symbolic and does not strip the member of their congressional seat or privileges

Historical Instances of Censure

Throughout U.S. history, censure has been employed to address various forms of misconduct by legislators:

Senate Censures: Since 1789, the Senate has censured nine of its members for conduct deemed inappropriate or detrimental to the institution.
House Censures: The House of Representatives has censured several members over the years for actions ranging from unethical behavior to breaches of decorum. For example, in 1832, Representative William Stanbery was censured for insulting the Speaker of the House.

Recent Example: The Censure of Representative Al Green

A contemporary illustration of censure occurred in March 2025, involving Democratic Representative Al Green:

Incident Leading to Censure: During President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress, Rep. Green interrupted the speech by standing and shouting objections, particularly concerning proposed Medicaid funding cuts. Despite warnings, he continued his protest and was subsequently removed from the chamber by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Censure Resolution: The Republican-led House introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Green for his conduct during the president’s address. The resolution accused him of breaching decorum and engaging in disorderly behavior.
House Vote and Outcome: The censure resolution was approved with a vote of 224 in favor and 198 against, with 10 Democrats joining Republicans in support of the measure. As a result, Rep. Green was required to stand in the well of the House chamber to receive the formal reading of the censure resolution.

Distinctions Between Censure, Reprimand, and Expulsion

It’s important to differentiate between the various disciplinary actions available to Congress:

Censure: A formal statement of disapproval that requires the member to stand in the well of the chamber for the reading of the resolution. It does not remove the member from office or strip them of their voting rights but serves as a public admonishment
Reprimand: Considered a less severe form of discipline than censure, a reprimand is also a formal statement of disapproval but does not require the member to stand in the well of the chamber. It is noted in the member’s record but is viewed as less severe than censure.
Expulsion: The most severe form of disciplinary action, expulsion removes the member from office and requires a two-thirds majority vote. Since 1789, the Senate has expelled 15 members, and the House has expelled five. The majority of these expulsions occurred during the Civil War era for members supporting the Confederacy.