Transcript impeachment - Leon County Schools

IMPEACHMENT
THE ROD BLAGOJEVICH
INVESTIGATION
WHAT is Impeachment?
A
formal accusation of
wrongdoing against a public
official. According to the United
States Constitution, the House of
Representatives can vote to
impeach an official, but the
Senate actually tries the case.
WHO can be impeached?
At
the federal level, Article II of
the United States Constitution
states in Section 4 that "The
President, Vice President, and all
civil Officers of the United States
shall be removed from Office on
Impeachment…
WHY can someone be Impeached?
"Treason,
Bribery or other high
Crimes and Misdemeanors"
(Article II, Section 4). These
formal accusations are
codified as articles of
impeachment
High Crimes and Misdemeanors

Charge that covers allegations of misconduct
peculiar to officials, such as perjury of oath,
abuse of authority, bribery, intimidation, misuse
of assets, failure to supervise, dereliction of duty,
conduct unbecoming, and refusal to obey a
lawful order.

Dereliction of duty – abandoning
duties/responsibilities. Neglect, failure,
negligence
Impeachment Process

The U.S. Constitution provides impeachment as the method for removing the
president, vice president, federal judges, and other federal officials from
office. The impeachment process begins in the House of Representatives
and follows these steps:

The House Judiciary Committee holds hearings and, if necessary, prepares
articles of impeachment. These are the charges against the official.

If a majority of the committee votes to approve the articles, the whole
House debates and votes on them.

If a majority of the House votes to impeach the official on any article, then
the official must then stand trial in the Senate.

For the official to be removed from office, two-thirds of the Senate must vote
to convict the official. Upon conviction, the official is automatically removed
from office and, if the Senate so decides, may be forbidden from holding
governmental office again.
Rod Blagojevich
• 1986: Cook County Assistant State’s
Attorney
• 1996: Elected to US House of
Representatives
• 2003-2009: Governor of Illinois, 2
Terms
• First Democrat to be elected Gov.
of IL in 30 years
Group Activity





Read and discuss Illinois Senate Transcripts
Create a poster with predictions of WHY Rod was on trial in
front of the Senate
 “What did he do to deserve these charges?”
 Include pictures, symbols, phrases, etc.
Choose Roles
 Reader
 Note-taker
 Illustrator
 Presenter
 *CAN COMBINE ROLES
Present to the class your findings/predictions
HAVE FUN!! 
Closing Arguments

https://www.c-span.org/video/?283734-1/illinoisimpeachment-prosecutor-closing-argument

https://www.c-span.org/video/?283734-2/governorblagojevich-closing-remarks

House Prosecutor, David Ellis

Governor Rod Blagojevich
SO… What really happened?

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HR/PDF/09600HR0005.pdf

“Rod R. Blagojevich, has abused the power of his office in some or all of
the following ways”

13 Abuses of Power sited

“60 phone conversations all related to plots by the Governor to use his
official acts to further his own personal gain.” – House Prosecutor

MOST NOTABLE:
Attempting to trade President-elect Barack Obama's newly vacant
senatorial seat in return for campaign contributions and a high-paying job
for his wife. Transcripts of phone conversations also revealed that
Blagojevich threatened to block financial assistance to the company that
owns the Chicago Tribune newspaper, unless they fired members of the
paper's editorial board who criticized the governor.
The Purpose of Impeachment

A system of checks and balances among the
three branches of government that mirrors the
federal system and prevents any branch from
abusing its power.

Important to know how the system works

Learn from others experiences even if it doesn’t
happen to YOU!
Impeachment Assignment
1.
William Blount
2.
John Pickering
3.
Samuel Chase
4.
James H. Peck
5.
West H. Humphreys
6.
Andrew Johnson
7.
William H. Belknap
8.
Charles Swayne
9.
Robert W. Archbald
10.
George W. English
11.
Harold Louderback
12.
Halsted L. Ritter
13.
Harry E. Claiborne
14.
Alcee L. Hastings
15.
Walter L. Nixon Jr.
16.
William J Clinton
Bring information
(printed or hand copied) for HW grade***

education

family

political parties

dates

impeached? why? how?

activities involved in

personality traits…etc

printed pic
**We will be
writing on a
piece of paper.
If you want to
type it up and
bring on Friday,
you can for extra
credit.
Vocabulary

Alleged or Allegedly – something claimed to have taken place, but
no proof. Supposedly or apparently are synonyms

Unrebutted – not disproved