A Historic Impeachment
Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard the term “impeachment” in the news recently. But what is impeachment? Boiled down, it is a process set forth in the Constitution where the legislative branch can investigate whether officers in the executive or judicial branches should be removed from office. (Go back and watch old Schoolhouse Rock if you need a refresher on the three branches of government). In other words, impeachment is not limited to removing a sitting president — all kinds of government officials can be impeached. In fact, the majority of impeachments have involved federal judges. In U.S. history, only Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were charged with articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives. (Interesting historical fact — President Richard Nixon resigned from office before the House adopted articles of impeachment).
The Impeachment Process
The impeachment process begins in the House of Representatives when the House adopts an impeachment resolution by a simple majority vote. The matter is then referred to the Senate for a trial. House members prosecute the case. The Senate is the courtroom and the Senators are the jurors. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides. The impeached official has the right to counsel and to present a defense. While the trial mirrors a criminal trial in some respects, it is a political, not criminal, process. Conviction does not result in incarceration, but will only result in ouster from office. A two-thirds majority vote of the Senate is needed to convict.
Impeachable Offenses
What is and what is not an impeachable offense is a matter of never-ending debate. The Constitution describes such offenses under the umbrella of “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” Some constitutional scholars believe the term “high crime and misdemeanors” was intended by the Framers to be very broad and to include abuse of power, dereliction of duty, and unfitness. The few prior presidential impeachments have all included a claim alleging abuse of power. Not surprisingly, all prior presidential impeachments were initiated by the party in opposition to the president. Both Presidents Johnson and Clinton were acquitted by the Senate.
Whether or not you believe President Trump should be removed from office, know that you are watching a historic process, one that our Founding Fathers reserved for only the most grave of circumstances.