Impeachment Process

We use the term impeachment very often while preparing reports and other general documents related to many organizations and big corporations; but this term becomes very intense when used in government meetings and conferences. Now let's understand the meaning of impeachment process in government terms.

Impeachment happens when a high ranking government official is accused of some illegal activity and the outcome can lead to the removal of that official from his government job or to be sentenced for some other punishment. Always remember that process of impeachment and a recall election are two different things. A recall election is normally based on political charges like mismanagement and is usually initiated by the voters. However, impeachment is pioneered by a legislative body and is usually based on a serious offense.

Explain the Impeachment Process

Impeachment is defined as the removal of a high ranking government official of the United States. The US constitution states that any official, let him/her be a member of the President's cabinet or a member of the senate or a member of the house of representatives, qualifies for impeachment process if he/she has done something wrong. The steps of impeachment begins when formal charges are brought against the accused. These charges are examined by an independent prosecutor appointed by the house judiciary committee and the attorney general of the United States. A detailed account of the charges are presented in a report to the house of representatives. If the impeachment continues to a hearing then these reports are called "Articles of Impeachment".

The procedure of an impeachment begins with a direct resolution or an inquiry in the case. An inquiry and direct resolution are two different things. A direct resolution simply calls for a direct vote to impeach the convicted official, while an inquiry calls for an inquiry into whether the process of impeachment would be appropriate. If the supervising committee finds some potential in the impeachment resolution, it then sends the articles of impeachment to the house for a vote. The house casts a vote for each article and any articles who get majority of votes is send to the senate for final judgment. The constitution gives the senate entire power to decide on the impeachment. The senate also follow their own set of rules in the process of impeachment. A conviction requires the senate to be confident enough to prove the convicted official guilty for apparent reasons. After conviction the appropriate punishment is decided by the senate.

Presidential Impeachment Process

Impeachment is the last thing that any president would want during his term in the office. Serious discussions about impeachment have only been held 4 times; for Andrew Johnson, John Tyler, Richard Nixon and William J. Clinton (Bill Clinton). Let's have a look at the steps for impeachment for the president of the United States.

Impeachment Process in House of Representatives

• The judiciary committee decides whether to start with the proceedings of impeachment.
• If the impeachment begins, the chairman of the committee will propose a resolution to the committee to begin an inquiry in the matter.
• Based on the reports prepared during the inquiry, the committee sends a resolution to the full house stating that how the impeachment is valid.
• The full house will debate and cast their vote on each article of impeachment.
• If any one of the articles of impeachment gets a majority vote, the president gets impeached. However being impeached is like being convicted, there still has to be a trial which has to be followed which is presided by the US senate.

Impeachment Process in the Senate

• The senate session begins with receiving of the articles of impeachment.
• The senate develops rules and procedures for holding a trial.
• In the trial the president will be represented by his lawyers. A selected group of house members act as prosecutors. The Chief Justice of the United States presides the session with 100 senators acting as jury members.
• The senate can also vote against the president removing him from his current office and also prohibiting him from holding any office in future.

So I hope you have a fair idea about impeachment process of the president or a high ranking government official. Whenever the trial comes in the hands of the senate a 2/3 majority vote should be cast in order for the official to be removed from his post.