Impeachment: Historical Examples and Their Significance

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🏛️ Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of government.
• 📜 The U.S. Constitution specifies that the President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States can be impeached and removed from office for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
• ⚖️ The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach, while the Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments.
• 🔢 A simple majority vote in the House is needed to impeach, and a two-thirds vote in the Senate is required for conviction and removal.
• 📅 Andrew Johnson (1868), Bill Clinton (1998), and Donald Trump (2019, 2021) were impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate.
• 🕰️ Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before he could be impeached for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
• 💡 Impeachment serves as a check on executive and judicial power, ensuring accountability.

Practice Quiz

1. What is the standard of evidence for impeachment according to the U.S. Constitution?
   1. Treason
   2. Bribery
   3. High crimes and misdemeanors
   4. All of the above
2. Which body has the sole power to impeach?
   1. The Senate
   2. The House of Representatives
   3. The Supreme Court
   4. The Electoral College
3. Which body conducts the trial for an impeached official?
   1. The House of Representatives
   2. The Senate
   3. The Supreme Court
   4. The Electoral College
4. What is the required vote in the Senate to convict and remove an impeached official?
   1. Simple majority
   2. Two-thirds majority
   3. Unanimous vote
   4. Three-fourths majority
5. Which U.S. President resigned before facing impeachment?
   1. Andrew Johnson
   2. Richard Nixon
   3. Bill Clinton
   4. Donald Trump
6. How many U.S. Presidents have been removed from office through impeachment?
   1. 1
   2. 2
   3. 3
   4. 0
7. Which of the following is NOT a reason for impeachment according to the Constitution?
   1. Treason
   2. Bribery
   3. High crimes
   4. Disagreement on policy