Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a supermajority vote of Members present and voting to subject a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to the censure or disapproval of the House, or removal from committee membership.
Term Dictionary
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- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
The gist
Raises the vote threshold to censure, disapprove, or remove a House member from committees from 50% to 60%, making partisan punishments harder.
Who wins, who loses
Wins: minority-party members, individual representatives facing party-line punishment votes.
Loses: majority parties wanting to discipline opposition members; House leadership's punishment power.
What it does
Amends Rule XVII of the House Rules by adding a new Clause 11.
Requires at least 60% of members voting (with quorum present) to censure or disapprove.
Applies the same 60% threshold to removing members from committee assignments.
Covers Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner equally.
Why should I care?
Supporters, a bipartisan group, say recent years saw a spike in party-line censures and committee removals used as political weapons. A higher threshold forces real consensus. Critics argue serious misconduct deserves swift majority action, and a 60% rule lets bad actors escape accountability when their party protects them. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.