The Impeachment Process

Impeachment

a process for removing high-ranking public officials from office.

The process begins with

an investigation of the individual by the House of Representatives.

The president, vice-president, and all civil officers(federal judges) shall be removed from office on impeachment for

any conviction of treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors

It takes a 2/3rds majority vote of the senate members to

find someone guilty of an impeachable offense

A simple majority vote of the house is

sufficient to file formal charges of impeachment

Once the house has filed formal charges against the individual

the case is turned over to the senate. The senate acts like a court and tries the individual for the impeachable offense.

If it's the president who is being impeached

the chief justice of the supreme court will preside over the Senate hearings

If found guilty

the person is removed from office and may be kept from holding any other political office

If the house determines that there is sufficient evidence that the person may be guilty of some wrongdoing

they vote in favor of an impeachment trial.