Impeachment and Removal (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Oct. 29, 2015 |
| Report Number |
R44260 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Jared P. Cole, Legislative Attorney; Todd Garvey, Legislative Attorney |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The impeachment process provides a mechanism for removal of the President, Vice President, and other "civil Officers of the United States" found to have engaged in "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." The Constitution places the responsibility and authority to determine whether to impeach an individual in the hands of the House of Representatives. Should a simple majority of the House approve articles of impeachment specifying the grounds upon which the impeachment is based, the matter is then presented to the Senate, to which the Constitution provides the sole power to try an impeachment. A conviction on any one of the articles of impeachment requires the support of a two-thirds majority of the Senators present.
Should a conviction occur, the Senate retains limited authority to determine the appropriate punishment. Under the Constitution, the penalty for conviction on an impeachable offense is limited to either removal from office, or removal and prohibition against holding any future offices of "honor, Trust or Profit under the United States." Although removal from office would appear to flow automatically from conviction on an article of impeachment, a separate vote is necessary should the Senate deem it appropriate to disqualify the individual convicted from holding future federal offices of public trust. Approval of such a measure requires only the support of a simple majority.
Key Takeaways of This Report
The Constitution gives Congress the authority to impeach and remove the President, Vice President, and other federal "civil officers" upon a determination that such officers have engaged in treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
A simple majority of the House is necessary to approve articles of impeachment.
If the Senate, by vote of a two-thirds majority, convicts the official on any article of impeachment, the result is removal from office and, at the Senate's discretion, disqualification from holding future office.
The Constitution does not articulate who qualifies as a "civil officer." Most impeachments have applied to federal judges. With regard to the executive branch, lesser functionariesâsuch as federal employees who belong to the civil service, do not exercise "significant authority," and are not appointed by the President or an agency headâdo not appear to be subject to impeachment. At the opposite end of the spectrum, it would appear that any official who qualifies as a principal officer, including a head of an agency such as a Secretary, Administrator, or Commissioner, is likely subject to impeachment.
Impeachable conduct does not appear to be limited to criminal behavior. Congress has identified three general types of conduct that constitute grounds for impeachment, although these categories should not be understood as exhaustive: (1) improperly exceeding or abusing the powers of the office; (2) behavior incompatible with the function and purpose of the office; and (3) misusing the office for an improper purpose or for personal gain.
The House has impeached 19 individuals: 15 federal judges, one Senator, one Cabinet member, and two Presidents. The Senate has conducted 16 full impeachment trials. Of these, eight individualsâall federal judgesâwere convicted by the Senate.
