HRES-1172-119
Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
Sponsored by Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
What it does
This resolution would expel Representative Tony Gonzales from the United States House of Representatives. Under Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution, expulsion requires a two-thirds vote of the House. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ethics, which would typically investigate and report before any floor vote.
Who benefits
Constituents of Texas's 23rd Congressional District who support the expulsion, if they believe Gonzales no longer represents their interests. Members of Congress or political factions who seek his removal. Whoever would be appointed or elected to fill the resulting vacancy, as well as political parties that might gain from a special election in that district.
Who is hurt
Representative Tony Gonzales directly, who would lose his elected office. Constituents of Texas's 23rd Congressional District who support Gonzales and would lose their chosen representative. The district itself would temporarily lack full representation in the House during any vacancy period before a special election. Voters who cast ballots for Gonzales in the most recent election.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that the House has both the constitutional authority and institutional responsibility to remove members whose conduct is incompatible with service in Congress. They contend that the Ethics Committee referral reflects a serious threshold of concern, and that the expulsion power exists precisely to allow the House to police its own membership when other accountability mechanisms are insufficient.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that expulsion is an extraordinarily rare and severe remedy — used only a handful of times in U.S. history — and that removing a duly elected representative effectively disenfranchises the voters of Texas's 23rd District. They contend that absent a criminal conviction or conduct of the most extreme nature, expulsion overrides the democratic will of constituents who chose Gonzales at the ballot box.