The Impeachment Process: Explained With the recent launch of a formal impeachment<br />inquiry against President Donald Trump, it’s<br />important to understand what <br />impeachment actually is. Impeachment is the political process of removing<br />a civil officer from office for reasons of “treason,<br />bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” It can be brought against even<br />the highest officials, such as the<br />President and Vice President. The process begins in the U.S. House of Representatives, where a suggestion to impeach must be made and then authorized to proceed by the Speaker of the House. From there, the speaker chooses <br />to move the inquiry to either a <br />House Judiciary Committee <br />or a separate special committee. The members of the chosen committee then investigate and vote on whether to proceed with <br />articles of impeachment. Approved articles are then voted on<br />by the full House, with a majority vote<br />in favor meaning that the House has<br />officially impeached the president. The case is then presented to the Senate for a trial, during which two-thirds of the majority would have to find the official guilty. If found guilty, that official<br />is then removed from his<br />or her position in office. In the history of the United States, no president has ever been officially removed from office as a result <br />of impeachment. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both<br />acquitted during their Senate trials, and Richard Nixon resigned<br />while the process was still<br />being carried out in the House.
