Impeachment

• 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!!!!
 Impeachment
• 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.”
 Impeachment
• 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.
 Impeachment
• Only two presidents have been impeached:
o Andrew Johnson in 1868
o 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 Bill Clinton

1868 1998
Not Guilty Not Guilty

Richard Nixon
1974 – Resigned before
impeachment could begin
 Impeachment of Andrew
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

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
Bill 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 Vote
House Judiciary Committee

Charge Yes by Party No by Party

Perjury 21 Republicans 16 Democrats

Obstruction of 21 Republicans 16 Democrats

Justice

Article II 20 Republicans 17 Democrats ; 1

Republican

Article IV 21 Republicans 16 Democrats

 Clinton Vote
House of Representatives

Charge and Vote Yes by Party No by Party Not Voting

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

Dems; 1 Ind

Obstruction of 216 Rep; 5 Dem 12 Rep; 199 2 Dem

Justice 221-212 Dem; 1 Ind

Article II 205-229 200 Rep; 5 Dem 28 Rep; 200 1 Dem

Dem; 1 Ind

Article IV 148-285 147 Rep; 1 Dem 81 Rep; 203 2 Dem

Dem; 1 Ind
 Clinton Vote
Senate

Charge and Vote Yes by Party No by Party

Perjury 45-55 45 Rep 45 Dem; 10 Rep

Obstruction of Justice 50 Rep 45 Dem; 5 Rep

50-50
 Richard M. Nixon
37th President of the United States
Republican
Watergate and Tapes
 Executive privilege and US vs. Nixon
Impeachment
 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