Difference between revisions of "Impeachment and removal"
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The removal from office, and disqualification from holding any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States. | The removal from office, and disqualification from holding any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States. | ||
| − | [[The United States House of Representatives|The House of Representatives]] has "sole power of impeachment." The House has to vote | + | [[The United States House of Representatives|The House of Representatives]] has "sole power of impeachment." The House has to vote on articles of impeachment. If they pass, the President "has been impeached" but is not yet removed from office. The case is sent to the [[The United States Senate|Senate]] for trial. If the Senate votes by a two-thirds majority to convict, then the person will be removed from office. |
| − | In impeachment cases against the [[President of the United States|President]], the Chief Justice of the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] shall preside | + | In impeachment cases against the [[President of the United States|President]], the Chief Justice of the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] shall preside. |
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| + | ==Impeachment in recent history== | ||
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| + | In 1974, no impeachment proceedings had occurred in over a hundred years. Most Americans thought of impeachment as something quaint and bizarre in the history books. | ||
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| + | In the House of Representatives decided to begin impeachment proceedings against Richard M. Nixon, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with the Watergate affair. At the time, congressmen and their staffs were unfamiliar with the law and precedings involved with impeachment, and needed to research the question. | ||
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| + | On July 27, 1974 the Committee on the Judiciary voted to recommend three articles of impeachment. The articles concerned his obstruction of justice during the Watergate investigations. Before his near-certain impeachment and conviction could occur, Nixon resigned from the presidency on August 9, 1974. Thus, Nixon was never actually impeached. | ||
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| + | Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice relating to a scandal involving his personal conduct with a woman. He was acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999 on a party-line vote. | ||
Revision as of 22:52, January 7, 2007
The removal from office, and disqualification from holding any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.
The House of Representatives has "sole power of impeachment." The House has to vote on articles of impeachment. If they pass, the President "has been impeached" but is not yet removed from office. The case is sent to the Senate for trial. If the Senate votes by a two-thirds majority to convict, then the person will be removed from office.
In impeachment cases against the President, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside.
Impeachment in recent history
In 1974, no impeachment proceedings had occurred in over a hundred years. Most Americans thought of impeachment as something quaint and bizarre in the history books.
In the House of Representatives decided to begin impeachment proceedings against Richard M. Nixon, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with the Watergate affair. At the time, congressmen and their staffs were unfamiliar with the law and precedings involved with impeachment, and needed to research the question.
On July 27, 1974 the Committee on the Judiciary voted to recommend three articles of impeachment. The articles concerned his obstruction of justice during the Watergate investigations. Before his near-certain impeachment and conviction could occur, Nixon resigned from the presidency on August 9, 1974. Thus, Nixon was never actually impeached.
Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice relating to a scandal involving his personal conduct with a woman. He was acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999 on a party-line vote.
