The Erosion of Congressional Decorum: Is the Response Bigger Than the Transgression?
In the often-turbulent world of Washington politics, a recent event has ignited a debate that goes far beyond the initial infraction. The formal admonishment of Representative Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, by House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, for his conduct during President Trump’s address to Congress has sparked a wider discussion about the state of discipline, decorum, and bipartisanship within the House of Representatives.
The incident itself, while significant, was perhaps overshadowed by the reaction it provoked. Green was censured by a vote of 224-198, with two members voting present. The resolution required Green to appear before the House, where Johnson read the resolution detailing his transgressions and officially castigated him with a rap of the gavel.
However, what transpired next has raised eyebrows and fueled the controversy. A group of Democratic representatives joined Green near the dais, disrupting the proceedings and drowning out Johnson with a rendition of "We Shall Overcome." This act of solidarity, while perhaps intended to show support for Green, has been interpreted by some as a deliberate attempt to undermine the censure and further erode the already fragile state of decorum in the House.
In response, Representative Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, has called for Green’s expulsion from the House. Representative Andy Ogles, also a Republican from Tennessee, is preparing a resolution to strip the dozens of Democrats who joined Green in the well from their committee assignments. There is also a movement to relieve Green of his committee assignments.
The debate over Green’s censure highlights a growing trend in Congress: the disintegration of discipline and the increasing polarization of lawmakers. The days when a censure was a solemn and respected act of accountability seem to be fading into the past.
To illustrate this point, the article contrasts Green’s censure with that of former Representative Charlie Rangel, a Democrat from New York, in 2010. Rangel, a towering figure in Congress and a Korean War hero, was censured for abuse of office. The event was marked by a somber atmosphere, with Rangel appearing before the House, head hung low, as Speaker Nancy Pelosi, visibly stricken, read the censure resolution. The chamber was silent, and Pelosi’s gavel tap was barely audible.
In stark contrast, the censures of Representative Adam Schiff, Representative Jamaal Bowman, and Representative Rashida Tlaib in 2023 were characterized by yelling, shouting, and attempts to cover up the Speaker’s words. The resolution censuring Tlaib did not even require her to appear before the House.
The article points out that the rate of censures is increasing dramatically. Republicans argue that Democrats started this trend. The House censured Representative Paul Gosar, a Republican from Arizona, in 2021 for posting an anime video that depicted him killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and harming President Biden. Democrats and eleven Republicans voted to remove Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, from her committees in 2021.
The current state of affairs can be traced back to September 2009, when Representative Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, shouted "you lie" at President Barack Obama during a speech to a joint session of Congress about health care reform. This unprecedented outburst was widely condemned, and Wilson apologized to then-White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
However, some members of the Congressional Black Caucus believed that Wilson’s apology was not enough. They argued that the House needed to take action to assert its rules of decorum and that Wilson’s outburst was tinged with race. After Wilson refused to apologize to the entire House, Democrats proceeded with a vote on a resolution of disapproval of his actions.
Since then, the House has become embroiled in a state of "low-grade guerrilla warfare," with routine sniping at the president and battles over tit-for-tat resolutions of censure. The parties seem to be locked in a cycle of retaliation and escalation, with little hope of finding common ground.
The question now facing Speaker Mike Johnson is whether to continue this cycle of partisan conflict or attempt to turn the page. He must decide whether to mete out further discipline to Green and those who supported him or to seek a more conciliatory approach.
The decision is not an easy one. On the one hand, failing to take action could be seen as a sign of weakness and further embolden those who seek to disrupt the proceedings of the House. On the other hand, escalating the conflict could lead to further polarization and make it even more difficult to address the pressing issues facing the country.
Ultimately, the future of the House depends on the willingness of its members to put aside partisan differences and work together in a spirit of compromise and mutual respect. Without such a commitment, the erosion of congressional decorum is likely to continue, and the House will become an even more dysfunctional and ineffective institution.
