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.
Summary
House Resolution 906 proposes amending the House Rules to require a supermajority (60%) vote for censuring, disapproving, or removing a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner from committee membership. Currently, these actions can be taken with a simple majority vote. The resolution aims to increase the threshold for disciplinary actions against members.
Expected Effects
If passed, this resolution would make it more difficult to censure or remove a member from a committee. This could lead to fewer disciplinary actions against members. It could also protect members from politically motivated actions.
Potential Benefits
- Could protect members from politically motivated disciplinary actions.
- May foster more bipartisan cooperation, as a supermajority requires broader support.
- Could lead to more stability within committees, as removal would be less frequent.
Potential Disadvantages
- Could make it harder to hold members accountable for misconduct.
- May protect members who engage in unethical or inappropriate behavior.
- Could lead to a perception of a lack of accountability within the House.
Constitutional Alignment
The Constitution grants each house of Congress the power to determine its own rules of proceedings (Article I, Section 5). This resolution falls under that purview, as it amends the internal rules of the House. However, the Constitution also emphasizes accountability and the ability of each house to discipline its members.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).