Impeachment Definition and Process

Impeachment is a process used to remove a government official from their position if they have been accused of wrongdoing or criminal activity. This can happen to any government official, including the President of the United States, members of Congress, and judges.

The Impeachment Process

The impeachment process begins with the House of Representatives, which investigates the allegations against the government official. If the House decides that there is enough evidence to warrant impeachment, they will vote on articles of impeachment.

Once the articles of impeachment have been approved by the House, the case is sent to the Senate for trial. During the trial, the Senate acts as a jury and hears evidence from both sides. If two-thirds of the Senate votes to convict the official, they will be removed from office.

Grounds for Impeachment

The Constitution outlines the grounds for impeachment as "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." This is a broad definition that can include a wide range of offenses, such as abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and perjury.

Conclusion

Impeachment is a serious process that is used to hold government officials accountable for their actions. It is a constitutional right that is designed to protect the integrity of our democracy and ensure that those in power are held to the highest standards of conduct.

Impeachment is a process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official. Impeachment does not in itself remove the official definitively from office; similar to an indictment in criminal law, and thus it is essentially the statement of charges against the official.
Whereas in some countries the individual is provisionally removed, in others they can remain in office during the trial. Once impeached, an individual must then face a possibility of conviction on the charges by a legislative vote, which is separate from impeachment, but flows from it, and a judgement which convicts the official on the articles of impeachment entails the official's definitive removal from office.