Impeachment - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Impeachment is a process outlined in the United States Constitution that allows Congress to remove a president, vice president, or other federal officials from office for "high crimes and misdemeanors."
- 2. The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach federal officials, while the Senate has the sole power to try impeachments.
- 3. Impeachment is not the same as removal from office. Impeachment is the formal accusation of wrongdoing, while removal from office occurs if the Senate convicts the official being impeached.
- 4. The impeachment process typically begins with an investigation by the House Judiciary Committee. If the committee believes there is enough evidence of wrongdoing, they will draft articles of impeachment.
- 5. The articles of impeachment are then voted on by the full House of Representatives. If a majority of the House votes to impeach, the process moves to the Senate for a trial.
- 6. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the impeachment trial in the Senate, with senators acting as jurors. A two-thirds majority vote is required to convict and remove the official from office.
- 7. Impeachable offenses are not clearly defined in the Constitution, leading to debate over what constitutes a "high crime or misdemeanor." Past impeachments have included charges of abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and perjury.
- 8. Only two U.S. presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. Both were acquitted in the Senate and remained in office.
- 9. Richard Nixon resigned from office in 1974 before he could be impeached over his role in the Watergate scandal.
- 10. Impeachment is a rare and serious process that is intended to hold government officials accountable for their actions and uphold the rule of law. It is a crucial tool in maintaining the checks and balances of the U.S. government.