# recall Lieberman (Constitutional? Legal?) \[ ed. title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795 "2007-07-14T23:30:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/1 "2007-07-14T23:30:54Z")
When Joe Lieberman said he was serious about going into Iran ,I wondered if the people of Connecticut were disappointed in him. Then he said he may join the Republican caucus. He also wants to escalate in Iraq. He sounded so much more reasonable during the election. So is there any movement to recall him? ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/2 "2007-07-14T23:44:03Z")
Recall isn’t a blanket right; I don’t believe Connecticut provides for it all. (I assume that when the Constitution provides for states to set their own rules for choosing members of Congress it would allow for states to recall said members, but I have no particular reason for this assumption.) ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/3 "2007-07-14T23:54:11Z")
No, states are not empowered to authorize recall elections for members of Congress even if they want to. The Constitution grants states power over the “times, places, and manner” of Congressional elections–subject to federal override–but not over the length of the House or Senate term. To recall a Senator or Representative would be to unconstitutionally shorten his or her term. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/4 "2007-07-14T23:57:48Z")
Thanks for catching that. I knew I should have looked it up. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/5 "2007-07-15T02:16:23Z")
I looked to see if Conn. allowed and did not find it. I did run into a site asking for signatures to begin a recall. Therefore the question. ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc29f/32.png) [@I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_Ron_Burgundy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/6 "2007-07-15T02:18:53Z")
[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig] No, states are not empowered to authorize recall elections for members of Congress even if they want to. The Constitution grants states power over the “times, places, and manner” of Congressional elections–subject to federal override–but not over the length of the House or Senate term. To recall a Senator or Representative would be to unconstitutionally shorten his or her term. [/QUOTE] So a Senator or Congressman has _never_ been recalled? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/7 "2007-07-15T02:19:50Z")
There must be some provisions.,If malfeasance or just going crazy happen. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/8 "2007-07-15T02:44:42Z")
You forget that if a member goes crazy or commits crimes, the legislative body can vote to expel him. Obviously, the Senate isn’t going to expel Joe Lieberman just because he’s a lying sack of shit; they need a better reason than that. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/9 "2007-07-15T03:07:03Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] You forget that if a member goes crazy or commits crimes, the legislative body can vote to expel him. Obviously, the Senate isn’t going to expel Joe Lieberman just because he’s a lying sack of shit; they need a better reason than that. [/QUOTE] Captain: at this point, there has been nothing but an allegation that Lieberman “lied” about his positions during the campaign. No proof. And, in this thread, I assume all the OP is looking for is info about whether a “recall” is constitutional, etc. So, let’s confine ourselves to the basic question about “recall.” No biggie. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/10 "2007-07-15T04:06:39Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] Obviously, the Senate isn’t going to expel Joe Lieberman just because he’s a lying sack of shit; they need a better reason than that. [/QUOTE] Is there some law that says a man can’t change his mind? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/11 "2007-07-15T14:20:29Z")
The point about control over federal legislators is exemplified by the holdings that they cannot be term-limited by their states. Thus, the whole and sole authority for how long they serve is found in the Constitution of the United States. Section 5 of Article I provides for expulsion of members of either house as the result of a two-thirds concurrence of the membership of the respective house. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/12 "2007-07-15T21:47:54Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Then he said he may join the Republican caucus. [/QUOTE] Sorry for the hijack, but can you cite the above claim? (Not trying to be snarky, I just hadn’t heard that..) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/13 "2007-07-15T22:08:34Z")
[QUOTE=Do Not Taunt] Sorry for the hijack, but can you cite the above claim? (Not trying to be snarky, I just hadn’t heard that..) [/QUOTE] November 13, 2006 [Lieberman won’t rule out GOP caucusing](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/11/13/lieberman_wont_rule_out_gop_caucusing/) February 22, 2007 [War vote could make Lieberman Republican](http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54392) Not quite a declaration to go; more of a threat to keep the other Democrats in line with his war views. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recall-lieberman-constitutional-legal-ed-title/411795/14 "2007-07-16T15:41:38Z")
[QUOTE=Diceman] Is there some law that says a man can’t change his mind? :dubious: [/QUOTE] I think it’s “Rove’s Law”, aka, “The Flip-Flop Rule.” 🆒