What Does Impeachment Really Mean?

Pretty much every single person in the United States knows about the current impeachment and possible Senate trial against President Trump, but what does impeachment really mean?

The Process and Outcome

In short, impeachment stands for charges brought up against a civil officer of government for high crimes and misdemeanors. The impeached official, however, remains in office until a verdict is given.

Impeachment grounds are limited to “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors,” although a specific definition of “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” is not given in the Constitution.

Although impeachment is a long process, it always starts in the House of Representatives, as it is stated in the Constitution, it alone has the Power of Impeachment. A list of charges has to be presented in order to formally file an impeachment inquiry, after which an investigation will begin to determine whether or not the alleged crimes were actually committed by the one charged with them. Typically, and as the current case is, a resolution to impeach a certain individual goes through the House Committee on the Judiciary, and the authorization of investigation into the matter is referred to the House Committee on Rules and then the Judiciary Committee.

After the case is presented, a vote is held by the House to determine whether or not the case moves on to a Senate trial. To pass and move impeachment to the Senate, all you need is a majority in the vote for each article of the resolution. After the vote passes, managers are selected to present the case to the Senate, which are somewhat the equivalent of the prosecution in a standard criminal trial.

The Senate trial is just what it sounds like, a trial, with each side being able to cross-examine witnesses and call their own witnesses. The impeached official can also mount his own defense with attorneys. After the charges and case is presented, usually the Senate deliberates in private. A two-thirds supermajority is required to convict a person being impeached.

Finally, what happens if an impeachment is successful? The official who has been impeached and convicted is removed from office and could be disqualified. Further punishment, however, like losing property, liberty or one’s life, are not at stake during an impeachment.