How Does Impeachment Actually Work?

Summary

This video explores the impeachment process for the President of the United States, detailing the four ways a president can leave office: death, resignation, impeachment, and the 25th Amendment. It defines impeachment as the House's formal charges against a president for serious misconduct and outlines the multi-step process, including investigation, drafting Articles of Impeachment, and a Senate trial requiring a two-thirds majority for conviction. Historical examples of past impeachments are discussed, emphasizing the constitutional checks and balances intended to prevent abuse of power and maintain accountability in leadership.

Takeaways

• 👥 Impeachment is a process that allows the legislative branch to hold the executive branch accountable, specifically targeting the president's actions.
• ⚖️ The U.S. Constitution specifies three offenses that can lead to impeachment: treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors.
• 📝 Impeachment begins in the House of Representatives, where an investigation is conducted by the Judiciary Committee before any formal charges are made.
• 📜 The House must draft Articles of Impeachment, which require a simple majority vote (218 out of 435) to officially impeach the president.
• 🏛️ Once impeached, the Senate holds a trial to determine if the president should be convicted and removed from office, requiring a two-thirds supermajority (67 votes).
• 🔍 The impeachment process is designed to be thorough and careful, ensuring that a president cannot be removed without significant evidence and support.
• 👔 Richard Nixon is the only U.S. president to resign due to the threat of impeachment, while Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached but not removed from office.
• 📜 The term 'high crimes and misdemeanors' remains deliberately vague, allowing Congress to define what constitutes impeachable behavior.
• ⚠️ The 25th Amendment provides a separate mechanism for removing a president who is unable to perform their duties due to physical or mental incapacity.
• 📅 The impeachment process reflects the checks and balances inherent in the U.S. government, preventing any single branch from having unchecked power.

Q & A

What is impeachment?

Impeachment is a process through which a governing body, such as the House of Representatives in the U.S., formally charges a president with misconduct, specifically for 'Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors' as defined by the Constitution.

What are the four ways a U.S. president can leave office?

A U.S. president can leave office by passing away, resigning, being impeached and removed from office, or through the invocation of the 25th Amendment.

How does the impeachment process begin in the U.S.?

The impeachment process typically begins when the House Judiciary Committee investigates the president's actions. If there is sufficient evidence, a resolution for impeachment is called for, which can lead to drafting Articles of Impeachment.

What happens after the House of Representatives votes on Articles of Impeachment?

Once the House votes on Articles of Impeachment, if any article passes with a majority, the Senate holds a trial to determine if the president should be convicted and removed from office.

What is required for a president to be convicted in an impeachment trial?

A two-thirds supermajority vote in the Senate is required to convict a president on any Article of Impeachment, meaning at least 67 senators must vote in favor.

Who has been impeached in U.S. history?

Two presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. Richard Nixon resigned before the House could vote on his impeachment articles in 1974.

What does the Constitution say about the grounds for impeachment?

According to Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, the president, vice president, and all civil officers can be removed from office for 'Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.'

What is meant by 'high Crimes and Misdemeanors'?

'High Crimes and Misdemeanors' is a broad term that refers to any serious misconduct by a president that undermines the stability or integrity of the U.S. government, without a specific definition provided in the Constitution.

What role does the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court play in an impeachment trial?

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the impeachment trial in the Senate, ensuring the process is conducted fairly.

How can the 25th Amendment be invoked to remove a president?

The 25th Amendment allows for the president to be temporarily or permanently relieved of their duties if they provide a written declaration of inability, or if the vice president and a majority of the cabinet declare that the president is unable to discharge their duties.