Understanding Impeachment vs. Conviction
To clarify a frequently misunderstood process: Impeachment is an indictment, not a conviction. 1. The Indictment (The House)
The process begins in the House of Representatives. If a majority votes for “Articles of Impeachment,” the President is officially impeached. This is functionally the same as being charged with a crime in a civilian court. It does not remove the President from office; it simply moves the case to the next stage.
2. The Trial (The Senate)
The Senate then acts as a High Court. Members of the House act as prosecutors (“Managers”), the President has defense counsel, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court typically presides over the trial. The Senators serve as the jury.
3. The Verdict
For a President to be removed, the Senate must vote to convict by a two-thirds majority (67 out of 100 senators). This is a very high bar that was intentionally designed by the Founders to require broad consensus.
Historical Context
Richard Nixon: He was never actually impeached. He resigned once it became clear that both impeachment and conviction were inevitable.
Impeached Presidents: Andrew Johnson 1868), Bill Clinton (1998), and Donald Trump (2019 and 2021) were all impeached by the House.
The Result: In every single instance in U.S. history, the Senate acquitted the President.
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