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In earlier days of the republic, censure was far more common, and its use often reflected the era. The first censure, in 1832, landed on Representative William Stanbery for insulting the speaker. Then came the run-up to and prosecution of the Civil War: Joshua Giddings was censured in 1842 for “unwarranted and unwarrantable” conduct after presenting a series of antislavery resolutions that violated a House gag rule against even discussing slavery; Laurence M. Keitt received one in 1856, for assisting the infamous caning of an abolitionist senator by a pro-slavery House member; then two members did in 1864 for encouraging and supporting the Confederacy.

Between 1866 and 1875, 11 members were censured, for actual violence — Lovell H. Rousseau assaulted Representative Josiah B. Grinnell with a cane — corruption (such as selling military academy appointments) and “unparliamentary language.”

Censure fell out of favor, and the bar for it was raised considerably, in the 20th century. In 1978, Representative Charles C. Diggs was censured after he was convicted on 11 counts of mail fraud and 18 counts of false statements in a payroll fraud investigation. On one day in 1983, Representatives Gerry E. Studds and Daniel B. Crane were both censured for having sex with 17-year-old congressional pages, criminal offenses that would likely warrant a far more dramatic response today.

The censure in 2010 of Mr. Rangel, then the chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, came after he had been found by the Ethics Committee to have committed 11 violations.

Mr. Gosar has neither the lengthy career of Mr. Rangel nor his stature. But he has considerable influence in far-right circles around the country. He insisted on Wednesday that he never meant to incite or depict violence against a member of Congress, but was targeting the immigration policies of the Biden administration and its supporters. And he indicated he would carry his censure with pride.

“If I must join Alexander Hamilton, the first person attempted to be censured by this House, so be it,” he said. “It is done.”

The House considered, but rejected, a series of censure resolutions against Mr. Hamilton in 1793, when he was secretary of the Treasury.

Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.