Impeachment Process Steps to Know for Intro to American Government

Impeachment is a critical process in American government, allowing Congress to hold federal officials accountable. It involves steps from initiation in the House to a Senate trial, ensuring checks and balances within the state and federal constitutions.

1. Initiation of impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives

   • Impeachment can be initiated by a member of the House of Representatives or through a formal complaint.
   • The House has the sole power to impeach federal officials, including the President.
   • A simple majority vote is required to move forward with the impeachment process.

2. Investigation by House committees

   • Relevant House committees, such as the Judiciary Committee, conduct investigations into the allegations.
   • Committees gather evidence, interview witnesses, and assess the validity of the claims.
   • The investigation aims to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to draft Articles of Impeachment.

3. Drafting and approval of Articles of Impeachment

   • Articles of Impeachment are formal charges outlining the reasons for impeachment.
   • The drafting process involves legal and constitutional analysis to ensure the charges are valid.
   • The committee must approve the Articles before they can be presented to the full House.

4. House vote on Articles of Impeachment

   • The full House debates the Articles of Impeachment before voting.
   • A simple majority is required for the Articles to pass and move to the Senate.
   • If passed, the official is considered impeached, but not yet removed from office.

5. Transmission of Articles to the Senate

   • Once approved, the Articles of Impeachment are sent to the Senate for trial.
   • The House appoints managers to present the case against the impeached official in the Senate.
   • This step marks the transition from the House to the Senate in the impeachment process.

6. Senate trial presided over by the Chief Justice

   • The Senate conducts a trial to determine whether to convict or acquit the official.
   • The Chief Justice of the United States presides over the trial when the President is the one being impeached.
   • Senators act as jurors, listening to the evidence and arguments presented.

7. Presentation of evidence and arguments

   • Both the House managers and the defense present their cases, including evidence and witness testimonies.
   • The trial is conducted in a formal manner, with rules established for the proceedings.
   • Senators may ask questions and seek clarifications during this phase.

8. Senate deliberation

   • After the presentation of evidence, the Senate deliberates on the case.
   • Senators discuss the merits of the arguments and the evidence presented.
   • This phase is crucial for senators to formulate their opinions before voting.

9. Senate vote on conviction (requires 2/3 majority)

   • A vote is taken to determine whether to convict the official on the Articles of Impeachment.
   • A two-thirds majority (67 votes if all 100 senators are present) is required for conviction.
   • If convicted, the official is removed from office; if acquitted, they remain in office.

10. Removal from office if convicted

    • If the Senate votes to convict, the official is immediately removed from their position.
    • The Senate may also vote to disqualify the official from holding future office.
    • This step concludes the impeachment process, with significant implications for the official's career.