A Brief History of Impeachment in the USA
Impeachment is a process that allows the U.S. Congress to remove a sitting president, vice president, or other federal officials from office if they commit serious crimes. It’s a big part of how the government keeps its leaders accountable. While it is rare, the U.S. has seen several impeachment cases throughout its history. Let’s take a journey through this unique process and explore its role in the American system.
What is Impeachment?
Impeachment is a formal process used to accuse government officials of wrongdoing. The U.S. Constitution outlines impeachment in Article II, Section 4, stating that a president, vice president, or civil officer can be impeached for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” This means that when a federal official is suspected of serious misconduct, the House of Representatives can investigate and, if necessary, bring charges against them.
Once the House decides to impeach, the case moves to the Senate. Here, a trial is held to determine whether the accused should be removed from office. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over a presidential impeachment trial, and a two-thirds majority in the Senate is required to convict and remove the official.
While impeachment is often associated with presidents, other officials like judges can also be impeached. It’s important to note that impeachment does not always mean removal from office. It is simply the formal accusation, and the Senate must convict the official for them to be removed.
The First Impeachment in U.S. History: Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the first U.S. president to face impeachment in 1868. Johnson became president after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, at a time when the country was still recovering from the Civil War. Johnson, a Southern Democrat, had many disagreements with the mostly Republican Congress, especially on how to deal with the former Confederate states and their leaders.
The key issue that led to Johnson’s impeachment was his violation of the Tenure of Office Act. This law required the president to get Senate approval before removing certain officials from their positions. Johnson tried to dismiss Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War, without Senate approval. This angered Congress, and they accused him of abusing his power.
In February 1868, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson. The trial in the Senate began in March, and after months of arguments, the Senate voted on whether to remove him from office. Johnson narrowly avoided removal, with the Senate falling just one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict him.
Johnson’s impeachment was more about political differences than actual crimes. Although he stayed in office, the event had a significant impact on how future presidents would interact with Congress.
The Second Impeachment: Bill Clinton
The next presidential impeachment did not happen until 1998, when Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, was impeached. Clinton’s impeachment stemmed from accusations that he lied under oath and obstructed justice during a lawsuit about an alleged sexual harassment case. He was also accused of lying about his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
In December 1998, the House of Representatives impeached Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Just like with Andrew Johnson, the case moved to the Senate, where a trial was held to determine whether Clinton should be removed from office.
During the trial, the Senate heard arguments from both sides, but ultimately, Clinton was acquitted. On February 12, 1999, the Senate voted, and Clinton remained in office as they did not reach the two-thirds majority needed to convict him. Many Americans felt that the impeachment was more about politics than serious crimes, and Clinton remained popular throughout the process.
Donald Trump: The First President Impeached Twice
Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, made history by becoming the first U.S. president to be impeached twice. Trump’s first impeachment occurred in 2019, and his second impeachment happened in 2021. Each impeachment had its own unique reasons and outcomes.
In 2019, Trump was accused of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, and his son. Additionally, he was charged with obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate with their investigation. In December 2019, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump. The case moved to the Senate, where a trial took place in early 2020. In February 2020, Trump was acquitted, and he remained in office.
The second impeachment followed the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as Congress was certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump was accused of inciting an insurrection by encouraging his supporters to protest the election results. On January 13, 2021, just one week before his term ended, the House of Representatives impeached Trump again.
The second impeachment trial took place in the Senate after Trump left office. In February 2021, the Senate held a trial, but Trump was acquitted once more, as the Senate did not reach the two-thirds majority needed to convict him.
Other Impeachments in U.S. History
While presidential impeachments grab the most headlines, there have been other officials impeached throughout U.S. history. The most common targets of impeachment have been federal judges. For example, in 1804, Samuel Chase, a Supreme Court justice, was impeached for allegedly letting his political beliefs influence his court rulings. However, the Senate acquitted Chase, and he remained on the bench.
In total, more than a dozen federal judges have been impeached for various reasons, including bribery, corruption, and misconduct. Unlike presidential impeachments, most judge impeachments result in conviction and removal from office.
The Role of Impeachment in U.S. Democracy
Impeachment serves as an essential check on government power. It allows Congress to hold officials accountable when they abuse their authority or break the law. However, impeachment is designed to be a serious and rare event, not something that happens every time there is a political disagreement.
One of the biggest challenges with impeachment is that it can become very political. Often, the decision to impeach or convict is influenced by partisan politics rather than the actual misconduct of the official. For example, in Andrew Johnson’s case, his impeachment was largely driven by political differences with Congress. Similarly, in Bill Clinton’s case, many felt that the charges against him were politically motivated.
While impeachment has its challenges, it remains an essential part of the U.S. system of checks and balances. It ensures that no official is above the law, and it gives the people, through their elected representatives, the power to remove leaders who abuse their position.
Conclusion
Impeachment is a powerful tool that holds U.S. leaders accountable for serious misconduct. Throughout history, only a few presidents have faced impeachment, with Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump standing out as the most notable examples. Each case offers lessons about the balance of power, the influence of politics, and the role of the law in American democracy.
Although impeachment is rare, its existence serves as a reminder that in the U.S., no one is above the law.
