1 The United States of America Constitution Impeachment

2VocabularyImpeach To accuse an official of some wrongdoing or misuse of power

3VocabularyMisdemeanor A crime that is not serious

4VocabularyBribery Offering money or goods for a favor

5VocabularyTreason Making war against one’s own country or helping others to make war against one’s country

6 Impeachment MustMust be found guilty of treason, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors –More –More serious than a traffic ticket! Way to remove officials from office when they fail at their job

7 Impeachment 1.1.House of Representatives –Believes –Believes that an official has committed one of the crimes mentioned in the Constitution –List –List charges against the official Process

8 Impeachment 2.2.Senate –Acts –Acts as the jury –Hears –Hears both sides of the case –2/3 –2/3 majority must agree to convict and remove the person from office Process

9 Impeachment 3.3.Judge –Chief –Chief Justice of Supreme Court presides over the trial EspeciallyEspecially if President of the United States Process

10 Impeachment NoNo President has ever been removed from office by impeachment 3have gone through part or all of the impeachment process History

11 Impeachment President Andrew Johnson –Charged –Charged with several offenses –House –House voted to impeach –Johnson –Johnson escaped conviction by one vote of the Senate History

12 Impeachment President Richard Nixon –House –House began an investigation in his involvement with a break-in of the Watergate Office Complex Complex in Washington, DC –Nixon –Nixon resigned August 9, 1974 rather than let impeachment process continue 1 st1 st President ever to resign History

13 Impeachment President Bill Clinton –House –House voted for impeachment in December, 1998 Charges:Charges: –Obstruction –Obstruction of Justice –Perjury Found innocent by only a few votes History