In total, 11 of the lawmakers included in the “Most Corrupt” report over the last two years, out of a total 31 featured, have been defeated or are retiring, including New Hampshire’s only two House members: Representatives Charles Bass, a Republican, and Frank Guinta, a Republican.

For lawmakers facing Congressional ethics inquiries, there is at least one advantage to a political career cut short: the House and Senate ethics committees lose jurisdiction over them once they leave office, so no charges can be brought.

But there is a precedent for at least releasing reports on investigations even after lawmakers make their exit. The Senate ethics committee released a report about Senator John Ensign, Republican of Nevada, who helped his former chief of staff get a job as a lobbyist after Mr. Ensign had an affair with the aide’s wife. Mr. Ensign stepped down in April 2011, just before he was going to have to testify under oath to ethics investigators.