Impeachment of a US President Impeachment of a US President.

Präsentation zum Thema: "Impeachment of a US President Impeachment of a US President."—  Präsentation transkript:

1 Impeachment of a US President Impeachment of a US President

2 Impeachment Besides death, disability or resignation the only way the President leaves the office is impeachment. Impeachment – gathering evidence and holding a trial to determine guilt of wrong doing. - “They are going through impeachment”; “They went through the impeachment process” THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY!!!!

3 Impeachment Article 1, Sections 2 and 3; Article II, Section 4; and Article III, Section 1- Impeachment in the Constitution o “The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

4 Impeachment It is similar to a criminal trial: o The House of Representatives brings the formal charges/ accusations against the president. o The Senate Holds the trial and makes the judgment. o To be removed from office, must be convicted by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, which sits as a court, presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 16 people have been impeached by the house and seven convicted by Senate.

5 Impeachment Only two presidents have been impeached: o Andrew Johnson in 1868 o Bill Clinton in 1998 Resigned before Impeachment process: o Richard Nixon, in 1974, would have surely been impeached had he not resigned.

6 Presidential Impeachments Andrew Johnson 1868 Not Guilty Richard Nixon 1974 – Resigned before impeachment could begin Bill Clinton 1998 Not Guilty

7 Impeachment of Andrew Johnson The case against Johnson was entirely political, Radical Republicans wished to punish the South after the Civil War. They were angry at Johnson, a southerner, who had soft policies toward the South.

8 Johnson Vote House126 Conviction47 Nay Senate35 Conviction19 Acquittal Note: At this time it took 36 out of 54 Senate votes to reach the 2/3 majority.

9 The Impeachment of Bill Clinton He was charged with perjury (lying under oath), obstruction of justice, and abuse of power. The vote was passed by the House along Party lines A majority, but not two-thirds, of the Senate voted to convict. Why did he survive? o He was likable, economy was strong, nation was at peace, he was a centrist.

10 Clinton Vote House Judiciary Committee ChargeYes by PartyNo by Party Perjury21 Republicans16 Democrats Obstruction of Justice 21 Republicans16 Democrats Article II20 Republicans17 Democrats ; 1 Republican Article IV21 Republicans16 Democrats

11 Clinton Vote House of Representatives Charge and VoteYes by PartyNo by PartyNot Voting Perjury 228-206223 Rep; 5 Dem5 Rep; 200 Dems; 1 Ind 1 Dem Obstruction of Justice 221-212 216 Rep; 5 Dem12 Rep; 199 Dem; 1 Ind 2 Dem Article II 205-229200 Rep; 5 Dem28 Rep; 200 Dem; 1 Ind 1 Dem Article IV 148-285147 Rep; 1 Dem81 Rep; 203 Dem; 1 Ind 2 Dem

12 Clinton Vote Senate Charge and VoteYes by PartyNo by Party Perjury 45-5545 Rep45 Dem; 10 Rep Obstruction of Justice 50-50 50 Rep45 Dem; 5 Rep

13 Richard M. Nixon 37 th President of the United States Republican Watergate and Tapes Executive privilege and US vs. Nixon Impeachment Only House Judiciary 3 Articles Obstruction of Justice Abuse of Power Defiance of Subpoenas Resignation

14 Richard Nixon

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17 Bill Clinton

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