Impeachment

If a federal official commits a crime or otherwise acts improperly, the House of Representatives may impeach—formally charge—that official. If the official subsequently is convicted in a Senate impeachment trial, he is removed from office.

Origins and Development

The Senate's Impeachment Role

Constitutional Authority   Article I, section 2, clause 5   Article I, section 3, clause 6 & 7
            Impeachment and Removal (CRS) (PDF)
            Impeachment and the Constitution (CRS) (PDF)

Grounds for Impeachment

Article II, section 4

Impeachment Grounds: A Selection of Collected Materials (CRS) (PDF)

Impeachment Grounds: Part 2: Selected Constitutional Convention Materials (CRS) (PDF)

Process and Rules

The First Impeachment January 14, 1799

Senate Impeachment Trial Powers Upheld Jan 13, 1993

The Impeachment Process: An Interview with Senate Parliamentarian Floyd M. Riddick (PDF)

Impeachment Related Publications

Bills, rules, precedents, and other documents related to impeachment inquiries and proceedings. (GPO-govinfo)

Impeachment Trials in the Senate

Cabinet Members

War Secretary's Impeachment Trial May, 1876

Judicial Impeachments

Senate tries Supreme Court Justice Nov 30, 1804

Presidential Impeachment

Andrew Johnson

The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson: President of the United States

William Jefferson Clinton

Senate Publications Related to the Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton

S. Doc. 106-2 (GPO-govInfo)

S. Doc. 106-3 (GPO-govInfo)

S. Doc. 106-4 (GPO-govInfo)

Donald John Trump (116th Congress)

Senate Publications Related to the Impeachment of Donald John Trump in the 116th Congress

S. Doc. 116-12 (GPO-govInfo)

S. Doc. 116-18 (GPO-govInfo)

Donald John Trump (117th Congress)

Senate Publications Related to the Impeachment of Donald John Trump in the 117th Congress

S. Doc. 117-2 (GPO-govInfo)