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*

[Beaver Tail]

1. So THATS Why he appointed John Roberts

When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside

[SteppingRazor]

2. One thing a lot of "impeach now!" advocates forget...

is the bit about the House Judiciary Committee. Articles of impeachment must get through that committee before they get to the floor of the House.

Further, the Chairman of that committee decides its agenda.

That chairman, Sensenbrenner, memorably made the minority leader of the committee, John Conyers, take up a room in the basement to hold unofficial hearings on the Downing Street Memo.
So, as long as Sensenbrenner is in charge of the House Judiciary Committee, the possibility of impeachment is nil.

Further, even if he greenlighted the process, the HJC includes 40 members, 23 of whom are Republican, most of whom are well known for their partisanship.

Impeachment, in the final analysis, is an impossibility without Democratic control of the House.

[Callalily]

3. Great synopsis Kurovski

In case anyone is wondering about "line of succession" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Presidential_Line_of_Succession#Current_order