In a dramatic moment on Capitol Hill, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, found himself at the center of controversy after disrupting President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. The House of Representatives responded by voting to censure Green for his actions.
While a censure may not sound like a huge deal compared to an expulsion, it’s still a rare and public slap on the wrist for a member of Congress. This censure passed with the support of both Republicans and some Democrats, is a stark reminder that lawmakers must be held accountable for their behavior, even in the charged political environment we’re in today.
Last night I stood up for those who need Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Democrats will never abandon the fight to make sure every American has a safe, healthy, and financially secure life. #ISaidWhatISaid pic.twitter.com/xbKArzeLp1
— Congressman Al Green (@RepAlGreen) March 6, 2025
So, what does it mean for Green, and why is Congress using this tool now? Let’s break it down.
What does censure actually mean? Censure might sound like a big deal, but it doesn’t mean that a member of Congress loses their seat. Instead, it’s a formal reprimand, a way for the House to publicly express disapproval of a member’s behavior. It’s like being called out in front of everyone, but you don’t get kicked out of class. Green will still keep his rights and privileges as a member of Congress, but he’ll have to stand in the well of the House while the Speaker reads out the censure resolution—essentially, the House’s way of saying, “We don’t approve.”
Why did Green get censured? It all comes back to his actions during Trump’s speech. Green interrupted the President’s address, and that didn’t sit well with a lot of his colleagues. You could even hear their applause as he was removed from the address. So, the censure was a way for Congress to show that didn’t approve of his behavior.
The House’s rare power to censure
Censure isn’t something the House does every day. It’s a rare but powerful tool that Congress can use when it feels a member’s actions cross a line, but not to the point where expulsion is necessary. If you’ve been following politics for a while, you know that expulsion is a whole other ballgame, requiring a two-thirds vote. But censure? That just takes a simple majority.
Green joins a long list of censured members
This is far from the first time the House has censured a member. Since the early 1800s, Congress has used censure to discipline lawmakers for everything from insulting other members to taking part in scandals. For example, Rep. William Stanbery was censured in 1832 for insulting the Speaker of the House, and more recently, in 2021, Rep. Paul Gosar was censured for posting a manipulated video of himself killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
What’s next for Green? Despite the censure, Green isn’t going anywhere. He’ll continue to serve as a representative for Texas, but this reprimand will certainly follow him. It’s a reminder that even in the highly charged world of politics, there are rules of conduct that members of Congress are expected to follow.
At the end of the day, this move is just one example of how Congress tries to maintain order and keep things running smoothly—even when things get a little tense.
