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Censure: When Congress Punishes One of Its Own

Katherine Gypson

   CAPITOL HILL - When the U.S. Congress seeks to condemn the actions of a
   president, a cabinet member, a lawmaker or a judge, lawmakers can vote
   on a motion to "censure" the individual.

   Censure is a formal reprimand less severe than removing an official
   from their job. It requires a simple majority vote in either chamber of
   Congress, instead of the two-thirds majority required to remove a
   lawmaker from office.

   What is the censure process?

   The Constitution gives each house of Congress the ability to punish its
   members for disorderly behavior or criminal misconduct through a
   reprimand, censure or expulsion.

   A reprimand is the least severe punishment of the three, sometimes
   given privately.

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