History of House Disciplinary Actions
"Resolutions of disapproval" have been used several times in the U.S. House's history. But they're not always used to discipline a member, as Democrats are set to do shortly for Rep. Joe Wilson.
The last time one that was introduced as a disciplinary action, according to the House Historian's office, was in 2003 by Nancy Pelosi against California Republican Bill Thomas. Thomas, then the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, "called the U.S. Capitol Police to eject protesting Democrats from a committee room," The Hill recalls...
... Per the historian's office, here's the language of that "resolution of disapproval":
H.Res. 324 (108th Congress): Relating to a question of privileges of the House …. "Resolved, that the House of Representatives disapproves of the manner in which Representative Thomas conducted the markup of legislation in the Committee on Ways and Means on 18 July 2003, and finds that the bill considered at that markup was not validly ordered reported to the House."
(The motion was tabled by a vote of 170 to 143.)
More from the Library of Congress:
"Resolved, That the House of Representatives disapproves of the manner in which Representative Thomas summoned the United States Capitol Police to evict minority-party members of the Committee on Ways and Means from the committee library, as well as the manner in which he conducted the markup of legislation in the Committee on Ways and Means on July 18, 2003, and finds that the bill considered at that markup was not validly ordered reported to the House."
Here's a history of disciplinary actions, per the historian's office:
Office of the Historian
U.S. House of Representatives
MEMO: Resolutions of Disapproval
REPORT:
The term "resolution of disapproval" refers to two very different types of resolutions. House Resolutions in general are used for internal actions or expressions of the "sense of the House." One common example is a resolution expressing the sense of the House "disapproving" an action of a foreign government. This is a sentiment, and has no force of law. A resolution criticizing, or reprimanding, or censuring, or rarely, "disapproving" the actions of one of its own members, is a disciplinary action, under the privileges of the House. It is in the form of a House Resolution, and while it "disapproves" of the actions of an individual member, it is somewhat confusing to refer to this as a "resolution of disapproval." Such internal disciplinary actions are not normally referred to that way.
The most common use of the term "resolution of disapproval" involves a statutory review of a proposed executive branch action. "Congress has, from time to time, passed laws reserving to itself an absolute or limited right of review by approval or disapproval of certain actions of the executive branch or independent agencies. These laws, known as 'congressional disapproval' statutes, usually envision some form of congressional action," either a joint resolution, a simple resolution, or an action by a congressional committee. Some examples of such areas where there could be "resolutions of disapproval" include the War Powers Resolution, the DC Home Rule Act, a number of acts involving arms export controls, federal land policy, and the Defense Base closures and realignment. See Rules and Manual of the House, section 1130.
Here are several examples of the statutory "resolution of disapproval":
- H.Res. 79 (107th Congress): Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 6) providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor under chapter 8, title 5, of the U.S. Code relating to ergonomics. Introduced by Representative John Linder (R-GA) on 6 March 2001. Passed by a vote of 222 to 198....
Read entire article at MSNBC
The last time one that was introduced as a disciplinary action, according to the House Historian's office, was in 2003 by Nancy Pelosi against California Republican Bill Thomas. Thomas, then the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, "called the U.S. Capitol Police to eject protesting Democrats from a committee room," The Hill recalls...
... Per the historian's office, here's the language of that "resolution of disapproval":
H.Res. 324 (108th Congress): Relating to a question of privileges of the House …. "Resolved, that the House of Representatives disapproves of the manner in which Representative Thomas conducted the markup of legislation in the Committee on Ways and Means on 18 July 2003, and finds that the bill considered at that markup was not validly ordered reported to the House."
(The motion was tabled by a vote of 170 to 143.)
More from the Library of Congress:
"Resolved, That the House of Representatives disapproves of the manner in which Representative Thomas summoned the United States Capitol Police to evict minority-party members of the Committee on Ways and Means from the committee library, as well as the manner in which he conducted the markup of legislation in the Committee on Ways and Means on July 18, 2003, and finds that the bill considered at that markup was not validly ordered reported to the House."
Here's a history of disciplinary actions, per the historian's office:
Office of the Historian
U.S. House of Representatives
MEMO: Resolutions of Disapproval
REPORT:
The term "resolution of disapproval" refers to two very different types of resolutions. House Resolutions in general are used for internal actions or expressions of the "sense of the House." One common example is a resolution expressing the sense of the House "disapproving" an action of a foreign government. This is a sentiment, and has no force of law. A resolution criticizing, or reprimanding, or censuring, or rarely, "disapproving" the actions of one of its own members, is a disciplinary action, under the privileges of the House. It is in the form of a House Resolution, and while it "disapproves" of the actions of an individual member, it is somewhat confusing to refer to this as a "resolution of disapproval." Such internal disciplinary actions are not normally referred to that way.
The most common use of the term "resolution of disapproval" involves a statutory review of a proposed executive branch action. "Congress has, from time to time, passed laws reserving to itself an absolute or limited right of review by approval or disapproval of certain actions of the executive branch or independent agencies. These laws, known as 'congressional disapproval' statutes, usually envision some form of congressional action," either a joint resolution, a simple resolution, or an action by a congressional committee. Some examples of such areas where there could be "resolutions of disapproval" include the War Powers Resolution, the DC Home Rule Act, a number of acts involving arms export controls, federal land policy, and the Defense Base closures and realignment. See Rules and Manual of the House, section 1130.
Here are several examples of the statutory "resolution of disapproval":
- H.Res. 79 (107th Congress): Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 6) providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor under chapter 8, title 5, of the U.S. Code relating to ergonomics. Introduced by Representative John Linder (R-GA) on 6 March 2001. Passed by a vote of 222 to 198....