Unit 7 Part 3 Unit 7 Part 3

ImpeachmenImpeachmentt

ImpeachmentImpeachment• 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!!!!

ImpeachmentImpeachment• 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.”

ImpeachmentImpeachment• 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.

ImpeachmentImpeachment• Only two presidents have been impeached:

o Andrew Johnson in 1868o 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 Impeachment of Andrew JohnsonAndrew 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 Johnson Vote

House 126 Conviction

47 Nay

Senate 35 Conviction 19 Acquittal

Note: At this time it took 36 out of 54 Senate votes to reach the 2/3 majority.

The Impeachment of The Impeachment of Bill ClintonBill 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 VoteClinton VoteHouse Judiciary Committee

Charge Yes by Party No by Party

Perjury 21 Republicans 16 Democrats

Obstruction of Justice

21 Republicans 16 Democrats

Article II 20 Republicans 17 Democrats ; 1 Republican

Article IV 21 Republicans 16 Democrats

Clinton VoteClinton VoteHouse of Representatives

Charge and Vote

Yes by Party No by Party

Not Voting

Perjury 228-206 223 Rep; 5 Dem 5 Rep; 200 Dems; 1 Ind

1 Dem

Obstruction of Justice 221-212

216 Rep; 5 Dem 12 Rep; 199 Dem; 1 Ind

2 Dem

Article II 205-229

200 Rep; 5 Dem 28 Rep; 200 Dem; 1 Ind

1 Dem

Article IV 148-285

147 Rep; 1 Dem 81 Rep; 203 Dem; 1 Ind

2 Dem

Clinton VoteClinton VoteSenate

Charge and Vote Yes by Party No by Party

Perjury 45-55 45 Rep 45 Dem; 10 Rep

Obstruction of Justice 50-50

50 Rep 45 Dem; 5 Rep

Richard M. NixonRichard M. Nixon37th President of the United StatesRepublicanWatergate and Tapes Executive privilege and US vs. NixonImpeachment

Only House Judiciary 3 Articles

Obstruction of Justice Abuse of Power Defiance of Subpoenas

Resignation

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton