Good information that answers questions on the IMPEACHMENT PROCESS

[Kurovski]

This is a link to The American Bar Association's Question and answer page on impeachment.

http://www.abanet.org/publiced/impeach2.html

I'm posting this because a newbie from Australia (Welcome,whoever you were! :hi: ) asked me some questions about impeachment. I've lost the thread and I can't reply directly, so I hope you find this.

It's a good quick read and might answer any questions other non-American DUers might have on the process. (And a big hello goes out to all our DU friends around the world! :hi: )

It's also a nice refresher for folks like me who are prone to um, "lapses in the brain synapses."

I think the following excerpt from the website answers the question posited by the new Aussie DUer, but I dunno:

Impeachment: A Look at the Process

Q. What is impeachment?
A. It is a process, authorized by the Constitution, to bring charges against certain officials of the federal government for misconduct while in office.

Q. Who are these officials?
A. Article 2, Section 4, specifies that "The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." These "civil officers" include federal judges and cabinet members, but do not include Senators and Representatives, (the Senate and House deal with misconduct by their own members).

Q. What is the role of the House of Representatives in impeachment under the Constitution?
A. Article 1, Section 2, of the Constitution specifies that "the House of Representatives...shall have the sole power of impeachment." This means that it has the power to bring charges against an official.

Q. What is the Senate's role under the Constitution?
A. Once impeached, high officials are tried by the Senate. Article 1, Section 3, specifies, "The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present." *snip*