1. Impeachment

2. question of the day
• other than Bill Clinton, who is the only
other U.S. president to be impeached?
• after the Civil War, but before 1900.
• Andrew Johnson

3. objective
• describe and explain the grounds
for impeachment and the various
steps it must go through to reach
that point.

4. • “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.”
–Article II, Section 4 of the
Constitution

5. what is impeachment?
• a process, authorized by the
Constitution, to bring charges
against certain officials of the
federal government for
misconduct while in office.

6. who are these officials?
• federal judges
• cabinet members
• NOT Senators &
Representatives
• vice president
• president

7. who brings the charges of
impeachment?
• “the House of
Representatives…
shall have the sole
power of
impeachment.”
–Article 1, Section 2
of the Constitution

8. what is the Senate’s role
under the Constitution?
• once impeached, high officials
are tried by the Senate.
• if the President is being tried,
then the Chief Justice shall
preside over the trial.
• requires a 2/3 vote to convict.

9. what is the punishment if
convicted?
• the President may grant
reprieves and pardons
EXCEPT in cases of
impeachment.
• removal from office.

10. what is the history of
impeachment in the
United States?
• 18 officials have been impeached.
• two presidents, one cabinet
member, one senator and 13
judges.
• only seven of these officials were
convicted by the Senate.

11. how does the
impeachment process
reflect the roles of checks
and balances in our
system?
• a check by the legislative
branch on the executive and
judicial branches.

12. The Impeachment
Process of Bill Clinton

13. Stage 1: Resolution
• A resolution, • September 9,
known as an 1998
inquiry of • Congress sets up
impeachment, is steps for
referred to the considering
Judiciary Lewinsky matter.
Committee.

14. Stage 2: Committee Vote
• After considering • October 5, 1998
evidence, the • Judiciary Panel,
Judiciary
in party vote,
Committee votes
urges
on a resolution of
impeachment
inquiry stating
hearings.
whether there is
enough evidence
for impeachment.

15. Stage 3: House Vote
• In this case, the full • October 8, 1998
House would vote • House, in a partisan
whether to approve 258-176 vote,
a Judiciary approves a broad,
Committee decision open-ended
to proceed to a full- impeachment
blown impeachment inquiry.
hearing.

16. Stage 4: Hearing
• The Judiciary • November 9 & 19,
Committee holds 1998
hearings into the • December 1, 8-10,
accusations, 1998
possibly broadening • Rancorous House
the inquiry into panel hears Starr’s
other subjects. case for
impeachment.

17. Stage 5: Report
• The committee votes • December 11-12,
on one or more bills 1998.
of impeachment and • Panel, on party
issues a report to the lines, votes
House, setting forth impeachment;
articles of Clinton voices
impeachment. remorse, invites
censure.

18. Stage 6: House Vote
• The House votes • December 19,
on the bill of 1998
impeachment. A • President is
simple majority impeached and
decides whether faces Senate trial
to bring the case
before the Senate.

19. Stage 7: Senate Trial
• In a trial conducted on • January 7, 1999
the Senate floor, the
• Impeachment trials
House Judiciary
opens, but talks on
Committee brings the
process go on;
case against the
witnesses are main
President who is
defended by his own issue.
lawyers. The Senate acts
as the jury and the Chief
Justice presides over
the trial.

20. Stage 8: Senate Vote
• The Senate votes on • February 12, 1999
each article of • Clinton is acquitted
impeachment. If a decisively by Senate
two-thirds majority on both charges.
supports
impeachment, the
President is
removed from office.

21. other presidents
• 1843 John Tyler • 1868 Andrew
Johnson
• charged with
corruption and • charged with serious
misconduct. misconduct.
• followed process • followed process
until Stage 3 when until Stage 8 where
the House rejected he was acquitted by
the charges. a margin of one
vote.

22. what about Nixon?
• 1974
• charged with
obstruction and
abuse of power.
• followed process
until stage 6 because
he resigned before
the House voted on
articles of
impeachment.