Impeachmeant

Impeachment – The Duty of the American People

It is disheartening to think that the political leaders who we have put our faith in to run this great nation will fall short, but this is sometimes the case. Impeachment is the tool by which, “the House of Representatives accuses the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” (Schmidt 242).” Throughout the course of American history the impeachment process has been enacted against only three presidents; President Andrew Johnson, President Richard Nixon (resigned prior to impeachment), and most recently President Bill Clinton. While impeachment is not an everyday occurrence it is a vital aspect of democracy and the ability to impeach political leaders should never be minimized.

The Constitution states that the impeachment process begins in the House of Representatives. The house impeaches (accuses) the federal officer involved. A Judiciary Committee is formed to conduct hearings and write the articles of impeachment. The House then votes as to whether or not to impeach the federal officer. An impeachment is similar to an indictment in a criminal trial, it does not prove guilt, it simply accuses the federal officer of a crime. The Senate then conducts the trial. The president is defended by a legal defense team and the case is prosecuted by a legal team assembled from the House. The impeachment trial would be overseen by chief justice of the Supreme Court. The impeachment trial would end with a vote of all senators to determine guilt or innocence. In order to be convicted two-thirds of the Senate would have to find the President or federal officer guilty of the crime. In the course of United States history no president has ever been impeached and convicted!

Andrew Johnson was the first president to have the impeachment process enacted against him. During his term as President, Johnson was in a...