impeachments

Impeachment is a formal process used to charge a public official with misconduct. It serves as a preliminary step that may lead to removal from office, but impeachment itself is not a conviction or punishment. In many systems, it is a political mechanism designed to address offenses committed while in office, rather than a general criminal procedure.

In the United States, impeachment is defined in the Constitution. The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach by a simple majority vote. If impeached, the official faces a trial in the Senate, where removal requires a two-thirds vote. The Chief Justice presides over presidential impeachment trials. If convicted, the official is removed from office and may be disqualified from holding future office. Impeachment can also involve other civil officers, with procedures varying by jurisdiction.

Grounds for impeachment vary by country but commonly include treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors. The term high crimes and misdemeanors is broad and often encompasses abuses of power, corruption, or serious misconduct incompatible with public duty. Some jurisdictions distinguish between impeachment and criminal prosecution, while others allow parallel proceedings.

Notable cases illustrate different outcomes. In the United States, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached but acquitted by the Senate, while Richard Nixon resigned before a House vote and avoided removal. Donald Trump was impeached twice and acquitted both times. Outside the United States, Dilma Rousseff of Brazil was removed from office following impeachment proceedings, and Park Geun-hye of South Korea was impeached and expelled.

Impeachment remains a controversial instrument, framed as a constitutional check on power but often perceived as a political process. It is typically reserved for serious misconduct and used only when other remedies are deemed insufficient.