After people have been elected to represent them, is it not unconstitutional to deny them

[Samrob]

representation by expelling those elected for anything that is not an unlawful act?

[onecaliberal]

1. The constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest.

[Bettie]

2. Apparently, that right is null and void

in MAGA states.

[onecaliberal]

3. Because the DOJ can't be fucking moved to do anything to save democracy.

[Bettie]

5. Right? You'd think that

they would be looking into some of this stuff, but of course, to avoid the appearance of partisanship, they'll have to wait until a Democratic majority body does the same thing...so, never.

[onecaliberal]

13. IMO he is derelict at best. It's malpractice to allow this state to punish these duly

Elected legislators for a peaceful protest over dead 9 year olds. This is a fucking disgrace. Who the fuck are we?

[inthewind21]

16. "We" are

the country who ignored the alarm bells ringing for the past 40 years about what was coming and are now screaming for the DOJ, the POTUS and anyone else to step in and undo, what "we "allowed to happen. That's who "we" are.

P.S. Go read the constitution and see what it has to say about states rights. Because "THEY" did, decades ago.

[superpatriotman]

6. +1000

Scream it to the heavens.

[inthewind21]

14. The DOJ

Has no business in this. Same as the U.S. House has no business meddling in a prosecution in NY. I'm curious though, what exactly would you have the DOJ do to prevent the State of Tennessee from carrying out their State Government affairs?

You do realize you are advocating that which would give you fits if it were happening the other way around. Or would you be ok with a Trump DOJ reversing the business of the state government in California?

[inthewind21]

17. Not even close

It's what YOU think happens because things don't happen like YOU want them to. It's astounding to me all those who are actively calling for the very things they would be all up in arms about if the political parties were reversed. My how quickly people abandon their "principals" when it's something they want done.

[onenote]

21. It doesn't guarantee state legislators the right to break the legislature's rules.

Should they be expelled for what they did? No. Does the state legislature have the power to do so? Yes.

[Emile]

4. I blame republican jerrymandering.

[LonePirate]

9. That is only a small part of the problem in Tennessee

First and foremost, the problem with Republicans is that they are an unabashedly fascist and authoritarian party nowadays. They crave power and they are in afraid to use to punish people or fellow legislators who they do not like.

Second, gerrymandering only adds a few seats to the legislative majorities for Republicans in Tennessee. The state is overwhelmingly Republican. The state netted TFG more votes over Biden than any other state, even Texas and Florida. By that, I mean when you subtract Biden’s votes from TFG’s votes, the resulting number was larger in Tennessee than in any other state. It’s a deeply red state and the legislators are simply enacting the will of their very red voters.

[hippywife]

10. Gerrymandering. nt

[mopinko]

7. no. they're in charge of their own houses.

there may be some recourse since it’s so obviously bogus. but no. and there shouldnt be.

[inthewind21]

12. Well

Well, there's this.


Article I, Section 5, Clause 2, expressly grants each house of Congress the power to discipline its own Members for misconduct, including through expulsion. Expulsion is the process by which a house of Congress may remove one of its Members, after the Member has been duly elected and seated.

There is the pesky 10th of constitution "States Rights"

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Then there's the TN State Constitution which basically mirrors Article I section 5.

Article II, Section 12 empowers the House to "punish its members for disorderly behavior," and to expel members with a two-thirds majority vote.

If the expulsion effort succeeds, the lawmakers' seats would become vacant. Because the 2024 general election is more than 12 months away, the districts would hold special elections to fill the seats. The representatives' county commissions can also choose to appoint an interim lawmaker, who would serve until a special election is held.

Representatives who are expelled can return to their office — by being appointed by the commission and/or by running again. The state constitution also says a lawmaker can't be expelled a second time for the same offense.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. People really need to read up on the U.S. constitution and their own state constitutions.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

22. Truth n/t

[onenote]

20. Nope.

[walkingman]

23. What worries me is places like Texas, which has a GOP dominate legislature and

Gov., will use this and do the same here. To be honest, not sure if the Texas constitution will allow this but if it does I would bet it will happen. After all, they don't want another State (like Tenn.) get ahead of them when it comes to disgusting poltical actions.

I honestly think we would be better off if the entire South left the US. Although it would present a great hardship for me personally I would leave in a NY minute.

I still try to holdout HOPE that the political pendulum will swing back eventually but that has not been the case for over 30 years.