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The
United States of America
Constitution
Impeachment
1
Vocabulary
Impeach
To accuse an official of some
wrongdoing or misuse of power
2
Vocabulary
Misdemeanor
A crime that is not serious
3
Vocabulary
Bribery
Offering money or goods for a
favor
4
Vocabulary
Treason
Making war against one’s own
country or helping others to make
war against one’s country
5
Impeachment
Way to remove officials from office
when they fail at their job
• Must be found guilty of treason, bribery,
or other high crimes and misdemeanors
– More serious than a traffic ticket!
6
Impeachment
Process
• 1. House of Representatives
– Believes that an official has committed one of
the crimes mentioned in the Constitution
– List charges against the official
7
Impeachment
Process
• 2. Senate
– Acts as the jury
– Hears both sides of the case
– 2/3 majority must agree to convict and
remove the person from office
8
Impeachment
Process
• 3. Judge
– Chief Justice of Supreme Court presides over
the trial
• Especially if President of the United States
9
Impeachment
History
• No President has ever been removed from
office by impeachment
• 3 have gone through part or all of the
impeachment process
10
Impeachment
History
• 1867
President Andrew Johnson
– Charged with several offenses
– House voted to impeach
– Johnson escaped conviction by one vote of
the Senate
11
Impeachment
History
• 1974
President Richard Nixon
– House began an investigation in his
involvement with a break-in of the
Watergate Office Complex in Washington,
DC
– Nixon resigned August 9, 1974 rather than let
impeachment process continue
• 1st President ever to resign
12
Impeachment
History
• 1998
President Bill Clinton
– House voted for impeachment in December,
1998
• Charges:
– Obstruction of Justice
– Perjury
Found innocent by only a few votes
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