Update on Expulsions from State Legislatures

by Karl Kurtz

Earlier this month we reported on the expulsion of a North Carolina lawmaker from that state's legislature.  In that post we said that seven other legislators had been expelled from different legislatures since 1970.  That number should have been 15, as indicated by this more up to date list--Download expulsion_2.DOC--compiled by Brenda Erickson.  Brenda's list includes 19 other expulsions before 1970, going back as far as 1757. (April 1, 2013 update: "Expulsions from State Legislatures are Rare")

See also an ongoing story about an expulsion procedure under way in Arkansas in which the loser of a 2006 Senate race is claiming fraud in the election process and demanding that the winner be expelled from the Senate.

Comments

[Gerry]

we have an extensive report at
http://ncleg.net/documentsites/committees/HouseEthicsWright/Attachments/9.%20Research%20-%20Legislative%20Disciplinary%20Actions.pdf

outlining expulsion both in NC (we've had bunches) and around the country. I haven't totalled them up. There is a horde.

[Karl Kurtz]

Thanks for the link, Gerry. The data from your N.C. report are covered in Brenda's downloadable report in the post. Your document provides valuable constitutional and legal justification for expulsions, though.