The Independent View: The U.S. Government Impeachment Process

The Impeachment Process in U.S. Government was First suggested by Benjamin Franklin during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Noting that the Traditional Mechanism for Removing “Obnoxious” Chief Executives, like Kings, from Power had been Assassination, Franklin glibly suggested the Impeachment Process as a more Rational and Preferable Method.

Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution says, "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors."

To date, Two Federal Judges have been Impeached and Removed from Office based on Charges of Bribery. No Federal Official has ever faced Impeachment based on Charges of Treason. All other Impeachment Proceedings held against Federal Officials, including Three Presidents, have been based on Charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Andrew Johnson was Impeached when Congress became unhappy with the way he was dealing with some Post-Civil War Matters, but Johnson was Acquitted in the Senate by One Vote and Remained in Office.

Congress introduced a Resolution to Impeach John Tyler over State's Rights Issues, but the Resolution Failed.

Congress was Debating his Impeachment over the Watergate Break-In when President Richard Nixon Resigned.

William J. Clinton was Impeached by the House on Charges of Perjury and Obstruction of Justice in relation to his Affair with White House Intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton was eventually Acquitted by the Senate.

At the State Level, State Legislatures can Impeach State Officials, including Governors, in Accordance with their Respective State Constitutions.

Impeachable Offenses

According to Constitutional Lawyers, "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" are:

(1) Real Criminality—Breaking a Law.

(2) Abuses of Power.

(3) "Violation of Public Trust" as defined by Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers. In 1970, then-Representative Gerald R. Ford defined Impeachable Offenses as "whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history."

Historically, Congress has issued Articles of Impeachment for Acts in Three General Categories:

- Exceeding the Constitutional Bounds of the Powers of the Office.

- Behavior grossly Incompatible with the Proper Function and Purpose of the Office.

- Employing the Power of the Office for an Improper Purpose or for Personal Gain.

The Process of Impeachment is established by the U.S. Constitution.

The Impeachment Process is initiated in the House of Representatives

It can start with The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee propose a Resolution calling for the Judiciary Committee to begin a Formal Inquiry into the Issue of Impeachment, acting as a Grand Jury and preforming Discovery. Then Deciding whether or not to Proceed with Impeachment'

The Judiciary Committee will send another Resolution composed of One or More "Articles of Impeachment" to the Full House stating that Impeachment is Warranted and Why or that Impeachment is Not called for.

The Full House, Operating under Special Floor Rules, acting as a Grand Jury, set by the House Rules Committee, will Debate and Vote on each Article of Impeachment.

Should any One of the Articles of Impeachment be Approved by a simple Majority Vote, the President will be "Impeached." However, being Impeached is sort of like being Indicted for Crime(s). The President will remain in Office Pending the Outcome of the Senate Impeachment Trial.

In the Senate

- The Articles of Impeachment are received from the House.

- The Senate Formulates Rules and Procedures for holding a Trial.

- The Trial will be held with the President represented by his Lawyers. A select Group of House Members serves as "Prosecutors." The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, currently John G. Roberts, presides with all 100 Senators acting as the Jury.

- The Senate meets in Private Session to Debate a Verdict.

- The Senate, in Open Session, Votes on a Verdict. A 2/3 Supermajority, 67 votes, of the Senate will Result in a Conviction.

- The Senate may also Vote, by a simple Majority, to Prohibit the President from Holding any Public Office in the Future.

Once Impeached Officials are Convicted in the Senate, their Removal from Office is Automatic and may Not be Appealed or Pardoned. In the 1993 Case of Nixon v. United States, the U.S. the Supreme Court Ruled that the Federal Judiciary cannot Review Impeachment Proceedings.

The Impeachment Process is Political, rather than Criminal in Nature. Congress has No Power to Impose Criminal Penalties on Impeached Officials.

But there is NO Double Jeopardy. So after Impeachment or End of Political Service, Criminal Courts may Try and Punish Officials if they have Committed Crimes.