Presidential Impeachment

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Presidential Impeachment

• Andrew Johnson, 1868
• Richard Nixon, 1974
• William Clinton, 1998-1999

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Why Impeachment?

• The Presidents listed before either did something
  that was against the law or abused the power
  given to them as president.
• The U.S. Constitution states that this is an
  action to be taken seriously.
• 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.

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How it Works.

• The House of Representatives votes the charges
  that the President will be impeached on.
• The Senate holds a trial on the charges. A
  two-thirds majority is required in the Senate to
  find the President guilty.
• If the President is found guilty, he is removed
  from office.

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President Johnson, 1868

• President Johnson was impeached in 1868 for not
  obeying the Tenure in Office Act that forbade him
  from firing cabinet officers. In reality the
  Radical Republicans wanted to remove him so he
  could not oppose their Reconstruction plans.

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Johnsons Results

• Johnson was tried by the Senate in 1868 on 11
  charges and was innocent of all charges. The
  closest vote was on the removal of a cabinet
  officer where he was found innocent by a one vote
  margin.

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Richard Nixon

• In 1974 The House Judiciary Committee recommended
  that Richard Nixon be impeached for covering up
  the Watergate break in, abusing his powers and
  refusing to honor subpoenas. When faced with his
  probable impeachment, Nixon resigned. This
  brought an end to the proceedings as impeachment
  can only remove a president from office.

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William Jefferson Clinton

• In December, 1999, the House of Representatives
  voted to impeach President Clinton on two
  charges, perjury and obstruction of justice.
  These charges concerned his grand jury testimony
  about his relationship with a White House Intern,
  Monica Lewinsky.

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Clintons Results

• On February 12, 1999, Clinton was found innocent
  of both charges by the Senate.

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References

• Internet
• http//ipl.org/ref/POTUS/index.html
• www.grolier.com/presidents/ea/prescont.html
• www.seattletimes.com
• By Jared Koreski