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What is meant when the Constitution states the House has 'sole power of impeachment'?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
In the US Constitution, the House of Representatives is given the sole power of impeachment. This means that the House is the only body that can issue charges of impeachment against a federal official.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt means the House of Representatives is the only body the US Constitution authorizes to bring Articles of Impeachment against a government official.
Impeachment is the first of a two-step process intended to remove a government official from public office for some form of wrongdoing. The Constitution refers to impeachable offenses as "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors," which, in addition to treason and bribery, may mean criminal behavior, ethics violations, rules violations, abuse of power, etc. An official may be impeached for something that isn't illegal, but is still considered misconduct by members of the House.
The impeachment process is like a Grand Jury indictment, where the District Attorney attempts to convince a Grand Jury that there's sufficient evidence to proceed to a criminal trial.
First, a committee conducts an investigation; then, if they believe there is sufficient evidence for a trial, files "Articles of Impeachment," or charges, against the official. The allegations are presented to the full House for a vote. If a simple majority of Representatives voting agree, the official is impeached (or indicted).
The second step is a trial in the Senate where a group of House members, called managers, act as the prosecution. The impeached official is represented by a private attorney. Members of the Senate fill the roles of judge and jury. At the conclusion of the trial, the Senate votes whether to convict. Conviction requires a two-thirds supermajority; otherwise, the official is acquitted and may continue performing in her or her official capacity.
The only function of impeachment is removing the accused from office; there are no legal penalties associated with this political process.
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Who can impeach the house of representatives?
Article I of the US Constitution states that the House has sole power of impeachment, or accusation. "impeachment" means to accuse, not to remove from office. Officials named in Article II Section 4 as vulnerable to impeachment: * The President * The Vice President * All Civil Officers of the United States While it is unclear what is meant by Civil Officers, Congress defines it as anyone appointed by the President. Under this definition, they may also impeach: * Federal Judges * Cabinet Members
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The Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution clarifies that the Vice President becomes President at the death, impeachment, resignation or incapacity of the sitting President. It also establishes procedures for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President,
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The House of Representatives has the constitutional authority to bring charges (impeachment) on the President. However the Senate is the group that can put the president on trial for the charges brought by the house.
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This meant that a government needed to have a "compelling interest".
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What process did the Constitution convention set forth for the states to ratify the Constitution?
The convention made it so that each state would hold a convention to ratify the Constitution. This meant a series of compromises and ratifications which were heavily influenced by Benjamin Franklin.
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I think it meant that the Constitution made the Central Goverment stronger.
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constituency is of or relating to the constitution.!!!
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The convention made it so that each state would hold a convention to ratify the Constitution. This meant a series of compromises and ratifications which were heavily influenced by Benjamin Franklin.
