In the Arizona legislature, how many votes are needed to expel a member?

In the Arizona legislature, expelling a member requires a two-thirds majority vote. This higher threshold is established to ensure that such a serious action, which affects a member's right to serve and represent their constituents, is not taken lightly. A two-thirds majority signifies that a significant portion of the legislature agrees with the decision to expel, reflecting a strong consensus that the member's conduct has warranted such action.

This requirement serves as a safeguard against arbitrary or capricious decisions, ensuring that members are held to a high standard before facing expulsion. It underscores the importance of maintaining a stable legislative body while also protecting individual members' rights. In contrast, a simple majority or half plus one would allow for actions to be taken with minimal agreement, which could lead to instability and potential misuse of expulsion powers. Unanimous consent would be highly impractical, as it is unlikely that every member would agree on such a significant action. Consequently, the two-thirds majority rule is designed to balance the need for accountability with the protection of legislative integrity.