Impeachment, Conviction,

and Succession

What is Impeachment?

• To formally accuse a federal official (judge, president, vice-president) of a crime

The Process Begins

The House of Representatives investigates to find if an impeachable crime has occurred

Article 2, Section 4: Impeachable Offenses

High crimes and misdemeanorsExamples--Treason, Abuse of

Power, Perjury, Witness/Evidence Tampering

Vote needed to impeach?

Answer: Majority

Why is it easy to impeach a President from the opposite

political party?

Two Options

Not enough evidence

Enough Evidence

Charges are brought and the Case Heads to the Senate for the Trial

The Trial

• To determine guilt and innocence

• Punishment: Removal from office

Checks and Balance

Supreme Court Chief Justice presides over the trial

Chief Justice William Rehnquist presided over the Clinton Trial

The Process

• Similar to a criminal trial

• Lawyers argue sides/ present evidence/call witnesses

• Senate is the JuryConviction requires a 2/3 vote

Case Studies: Close Calls

• Andrew Johnson

• Bill Clinton

• Richard Nixon- Break down of the system???

Quick ReviewWho Impeaches?

Who determines guilt/innocence?

Who acts as the judge?

Vote needed to impeach? Vote needed to

convict?Has a president ever been impeached? Has a president ever

been convicted?

Presidential Succession

Laws: 25th Amendment

and

Presidential Succession Act of 1947

If the President should die, be impeached, or resign while in

office...

If the Vice-President should die, be impeached, or resign while in

office...

Presidential Succession: If the President and Vice President should die, be impeached, or resign

while in office...Chester Arthur Calvin Coolidge Millard Fillmore Gerald Ford * Andrew Johnson Lyndon Johnson Theodore Roosevelt Harry Truman John Tyler

If Convicted

Punishment-Removal from office

Charges are Dropped

If Not Convicted

Continue to be President