Impeachment of a US President Impeachment of a US President

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!!!!

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.”

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Clinton Vote House of Representatives Charge and VoteYes by PartyNo by PartyNot Voting Perjury Rep; 5 Dem5 Rep; 200 Dems; 1 Ind 1 Dem Obstruction of Justice Rep; 5 Dem12 Rep; 199 Dem; 1 Ind 2 Dem Article II Rep; 5 Dem28 Rep; 200 Dem; 1 Ind 1 Dem Article IV Rep; 1 Dem81 Rep; 203 Dem; 1 Ind 2 Dem

Clinton Vote Senate Charge and VoteYes by PartyNo by Party Perjury Rep45 Dem; 10 Rep Obstruction of Justice Rep45 Dem; 5 Rep

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

Richard Nixon

Bill Clinton