impeaching

Impeachment is a constitutional mechanism by which a public official may be charged with misconduct and subjected to removal from office. It is typically not a criminal proceeding, but a political process that can precede removal. In many jurisdictions the process consists of two stages: indictment or impeachment by the legislature, followed by a trial to determine removal.

In the United States, impeachment is defined by Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution. The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach. If a majority votes for articles of impeachment, the official is impeached and the case moves to the Senate for trial. The Senate tries all impeachments, with the Chief Justice presiding over presidential and vice-presidential cases. Conviction requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate, after which the official is removed from office; a separate vote may be required to bar future office.

Grounds are not limited to a specified list but are described as "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors," a phrase that has been debated and interpreted over time.

Notable examples: presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate; Donald Trump was impeached twice and acquitted twice; Richard Nixon resigned before the House could impeach. These cases illustrate the political nature of the process and the high threshold for removal.

Outside the United States, impeachment is used in some other countries as a formal removal mechanism for executives or judges, though procedures vary widely. Critics argue it can be politicized, while proponents view it as a necessary check on power and abuse.