Introduction
Impeachment is a process that can be used to remove a sitting U.S. President from office. It is a rare and significant event that involves accusations of wrongdoing by the President.
How Does Impeachment Work?
Impeachment begins in the House of Representatives, where a majority vote is needed to impeach the President. The process then moves to the Senate, where a trial is held to determine whether the President should be removed from office. A two-thirds majority vote is required in the Senate for conviction.
Reasons for Impeachment
- Abuse of power
- Obstruction of justice
- High crimes and misdemeanors
Historical Examples
Only three U.S. Presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump. Johnson and Clinton were both acquitted by the Senate, while Trump was acquitted in his first impeachment trial but later impeached a second time.
Case Studies
One of the most famous cases of presidential impeachment is that of Richard Nixon, who resigned before the House could vote on articles of impeachment. This event, known as the Watergate scandal, led to Nixon becoming the only President to resign from office.
Statistics
Impeachment proceedings have been rare in U.S. history, with only a handful of Presidents facing such charges. The process is intended to hold the President accountable for their actions and ensure that they are not above the law.
