The expulsion of two Tennessee Democrats over a gun control protest is an extraordinary showcase of how the levers of single-party power in America’s statehouses can be pulled not only to shut down opponents, but also to punish them
Tennessee Lawmaker Expulsion
But in ousting Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson altogether from the Tennessee Legislature on Thursday, Republicans went beyond their typical ability to steamroll Democrats. They instead maximized their parliamentary power to exact retribution. But in the House, GOP members have increasingly used parliamentary maneuvers to cut off debate – particularly on controversial topics ranging from abortion to LGBTQ+ issues and guns. Republicans have used a legislative tactic known as “calling the question,” which forces an immediate vote on a bill and cuts off debate that can otherwise stretch on for hours.
Democrats who spoke during Thursday spent most of their time calling on Republicans to pass some sort of gun control legislation in the. But they also accused their GOP colleagues of having used the rules to keep debate to a minimum on other topics throughout the legislative session. “We haven’t had anybody complain,” Sexton said. “People raise their hands to be recognized. I don’t know who is going to call the question."The aggressive actions by Tennessee Republicans demonstrated a flip side to parliamentary tactics that lawmakers in the minority often use to as a last-ditch effort to thwart the other side. Among the most common are filibusters, in which lawmakers try to run out the clock on a bill through lengthy speeches.
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GOP lawmakers in Tennessee expel two Democrats over mass shooting protestLawmakers voted to expel Justin Jones and Justin Pearson but the motion to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson failed. The GOP supermajority accused the representatives of breaking House rules on conduct and decorum.
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Tennessee Democrats facing expulsion defend their gun control protest, accuse GOP of 'scare' tacticsWhen Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson joined two colleagues in boisterous chants for gun reform on the state Capitol's House floor last Thursday during a recess between bills, it was largely because she knows firsthand about the trauma that plagues, even at times consumes, an individual after experiencing a school shooting.
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Tennessee Democrats facing expulsion defend their gun control protest, accuse GOP of 'scare' tacticsDemocratic Tennessee state Reps. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis — now known as the “Tennessee Three” — are facing expulsion from the House for their gun control protest on the House floor after the deadly school shooting in Nashville. Experts say an expulsion could have a chilling effect in other Republican-led states.
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How Tennessee GOP expelling 2 Democrats could have ripple effect in other statesMajority party lawmakers punishing minority party members with different positions is becoming increasingly common, experts warn.
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Tennessee's GOP-led House Expels 2 of 3 Democrats Over Guns ProtestThousands of people flocked to the Capitol to support the Democrats, cheering and chanting outside the House chamber so loudly that the noise drowned out the proceedings
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