<P> The committee may then ask other Representatives or Senators to come forward with complaints about the Member under consideration or may initiate an investigation into the Member's actions . Sometimes Members may refer a resolution calling for an investigation into a particular Member or matter that may lead to the recommendation of expulsion or censure . </P> <P> Rule XI (Procedures of committees and unfinished business) of the Rules of the House of Representatives state that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct can investigate allegations that a Member violated "any law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member...in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities". The Senate Select Committee on Ethics has the same jurisdiction . The committee may then report back to their whole chamber as to its findings and recommendations for further actions . </P> <P> When an investigation is launched by either committee, an investigatory subcommittee will be formed . Once the investigatory subcommittee has collected evidence, talked to witnesses, and held an adjudicatory hearing it will vote on whether the Member is found to have committed the specific actions and then will vote on recommendations . If expulsion is the recommendation then the subcommittee's report will be referred to the full House of Representatives or Senate where Members may vote to accept, reject, or alter the report's recommendation . Voting to expel requires the concurrence of two - thirds of the members present and voting . </P> <P> In the entire history of the United States Congress, 20 Members have been expelled: 15 from the Senate and 5 from the House of Representatives (of those, 1 member's expulsion, William K. Sebastian of Arkansas, was posthumously reversed). 19 of the 20 expulsions involved a member of the Democratic Party . Censure has been a much more common form of disciplinary action in Congress over the years, as it requires a much lower threshold of votes to impose . </P>

How many votes does it take to expel a member of congress