Powell v. McCormack

Facts of the case

Adam Clayton Powell pecked at his fellow representatives from his unassailable perch in New York's Harlem. Powell had been embroiled in controversy inside and outside Washington. When Powell failed to heed civil proceedings against him in New York, a judge held him in criminal contempt. His problems were only beginning. He won reelection in 1966 but the House of Representatives voted to exclude him.

Question

May the House of Representatives exclude a duly elected member if the member has satisfied the standing requirements of age, citizenship, and residence as articulated in Article I Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution?

Conclusion

No. The Court noted that the proceedings against Powell were intended to exclude and not expel him from the chamber. That is an important distinction to recognize since the House does have the power under Article I, Section 5 to expel members. However, expulsion was not the purpose of the proceedings in this case. After analyzing the Framers' debates on this issue, Chief Justice Warren concluded that since Powell had been lawfully elected by his constituents and since he met the constitutional requirements for membership in the House, the chamber was powerless to exclude him.

Supreme Court of the United States

395 U.S. 486, 23 L. Ed. 2d 491, 89 S. Ct. 1944, SCDB 1968-127, 1969 U.S. LEXIS 3103

No. 138

1969-06-16

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