Want access? Go to File > Make a Copy. You’ll have full access to your own copy. (And you can delete this slide.)

*Note: The slides and discussion questions that follow are best used with our infographic: Impeachment and Conviction, but can be used independently to teach and discuss the purpose and process of impeachment in the U.S. Find teaching tips and teacher’s guide notes in the speaker notes section of each slide.

Visit iCivics.org

Impeachment + Conviction = Removal from OfficeImpeachment does not remove a federal official from office.

The House of Representatives must FIRST vote to impeach the official,

THEN the Senate conducts a trial.

IF the Senate votes to convict and remove the official, they will be removed from their position.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Why do you think the Founders divided the process into two steps (impeachment and conviction)?

Conviction

To formally declare someone is guilty of the accused misconduct

Impeachment

To formally charge someone with misconduct

Rule of LawGovernment officials and representatives must follow all laws, just like citizens do. Impeachment is a reminder that NO ONE, no matter their position, is above the law.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

How does the rule of law protect citizens?

Everyone pretty much agrees with the rule of law, but people do disagree about what kinds of actions violate it.

What’s the difference?

● First, there are no police involved in an impeachment. House committees conduct an investigation.

● And while the Senate trial involves a real judge (when the President is on trial, the judge is the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court), the judge can’t say anything! The outcome of the trial is decided by the Senators’ votes.

● If the official is convicted, removal from office is the sentence. The Senate can’t send anyone to prison. But they can vote to also disqualify the official from holding office again.

Treason and Bribery have pretty clear definitions, but the Constitution never explains what “other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” means.

Word Definition

Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

What kinds of problems do you think this could cause?

Treason A betrayal against one’s country

Bribery An offer made or received in order to influence the actions of another person

High crimes and misdemeanors ???

Enough is enough! (but how many is that?)The House of Representatives must vote to impeach by a Simple Majority—

more than 50% of the members must vote in favor of impeachment.

❏ Of the 435 members of the House, at least 218 must vote in favor of impeachment

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Why do you think the Senate requires a greater percentage of votes?

The Senate must vote to convict by a Supermajority—

at least ⅔ of the members must vote in favor of conviction.

❏ Of the 100 members of the Senate, 67 must vote in favor of conviction

What’s the big deal?Impeachment is a VERY BIG DEAL. So big, that it happens very rarely, and no President has EVER been removed from office.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Why is it so difficult to impeach someone? Why should it be?

Who has faced impeachment?

Andrew Johnson

Party: Democratic

Years in office: 1865-1869

Year impeached: 1868

Reason for investigation:Congress passed a law prohibiting the President from firing cabinet members. When Johnson tried to dismiss his Secretary of War, the House of Representatives started an impeachment inquiry and voted to impeach him on several charges. The Senate did not convict.

Richard Nixon

Party: Republican

Years in office:1969-1974

Year impeached:----

Reason for investigation:Nixon was investigated for obstruction of justice (interfering with a legal investigation) because he tried to stop an FBI investigation of a break-in at the Democratic party’s headquarters. Nixon resigned before the investigation ended, so he was never impeached on any of the charges against him.

Bill Clinton

Party: Democratic

Years in office: 1993-2001

Year impeached: 1998

Reason for investigation:During an investigation, Clinton committed perjury (lying under oath in court), and was impeached for this act. He was not convicted by the Senate.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Which one of these examples surprises you most? Why?

Only two impeachments ever?? Not exactly...Presidents aren’t the only people who can be impeached. The Constitution also says Vice Presidents and “all civil Officers” can face impeachment.

Nineteen people have been impeached by the House of Representatives and only two were presidents. Who were all those other guys?

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Of the nineteen impeachments in U.S. history, fifteen have been judges. Why might that be?

Remember, presidents are elected for four-year terms, cabinet officials serve as long as the president is in power, and judges serve lifetime appointments.