How to Recall a U.S. Senator

Senators have to find a balance between voting their conscience and voting as their constituents would like. If senators vote their conscience too heavily, constituents tend to get angry. When this happens, constituents may ask for a recall of their U.S. Senator.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Consider your location. Few states allow for a recall of a senator—only 18 and the District of Columbia. If you're not living in one of these states you have no constitutional rights to recall.

2. Determine the grounds for recall. You'll need this information to make your case to the population but in 7 of the 18 states specific grounds are actually required. In these states, if your reasons don't measure up, you won't be allowed to proceed with the recall.

3. Get signatures. You'll need a petition to get a recall election. The number of signatures is usually a percentage of the voters at the last election but this differs by state.

4. Prepare for a response. At some point during the process, the senator will be notified that a petition for recall is being circulated. She will then have a chance to respond to the allegations.

5. Get voters to the recall election. Once the recall election is granted, alert the community and get them out to vote. The ballot will ask whether or not the senator should be recalled and the state may hold an election at the same time to elect the next person for that office.

Tips & Warnings

• The 18 states allowing for recall are as follows: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin.
• A website or a phone campaign are good ways to get your petition going. Going door-to-door is also an option although it is more time consuming than the other two. This is important since you only have a set number of days to obtain the correct number of signatures—anywhere from 30 to 180 days.
• You will be fighting an uphill battle to recall a U.S. Senator. No member of Congress has ever been recalled in the history of the United States.

[cybernetic59]

on 6/30/2009 The 18 states allow for recall of state reps and sen. The constitution currently does not allow for the people to recall US reps or sens. Each House call expell amoung other thing to their own members.

I started thining last week or so that we need to be able to do this and went to my first Tea Party last night here in Ashatabula County OH and it was not mentioned. I did mention it to a few people but nothing has been dicussed yet. I do plan on setting up a web site to see if we can't get recall done. I did find out in doing some research that an amendment was proposed in the 103rd Congress (1993-1994) but the source of that info didn't state any action taken on it.

[mgb8484]

on 4/23/2009 I contacted the Attorney General of Montana and they stated that there were no provisions to recall a US Senator. I cannot find any information and the Montana Constitution is vague enough to protect them. We have to do something NOW. The Tea Parties were a start. I have started a CNN boycott in my area, it takes time informing people, but I have found a certain amount of resistance to change due to complacency. Any suggestions?

[boobe]

on 3/29/2009 Where is Tim Eyeman when you need him Let's get rid of these "representatives (party lackies all)" they are ruining the country with their quick, quick spending policies. No public scrutiny needed, thank you.Time to get out the pitchforks and clean house.

[txinva]

on 2/9/2009 I am among many who are extremely angry at both sides of the aisle. I am ready to start a new party. One that supports constitutional amendment for term limits and the Fair Tax. We have a lot of groups out there that are supporting these issues also. What do we have to do get them together and united on this.

[determinist]

on 2/8/2009 My sense is we have reached a tipping point in the American experiment - and if allowed to follow the course we are on, our way of life and standard of living will be negatively permanently.

What is needed is a new network of law-abiding citizens who are willing to spend time, effort and maybe part of their discretionary income to lead and serve to stop and reverse the extremely dangerous environment we are now in.

We have, eseentially arrived at an oligarchy of the worst kind - and are being led by people characterized by unbridled avarice, who also have little empathy for their constituents and are, in fact a kind of royalty.

The people that are leading the nation, no longer have any restrictions or oversight, or governing entities which are able to stop them from passing any law, raising any tax, and consolidating their powerful positions for themselves.

It is my belief th