Isn't it amazing how many people don't know what the term "impeachment" means?

Question

Impeachment does NOT mean that the person is removed from office. Knowing this, what is YOUR definition of impeachment?

Answer 1

Impeachment is the accusation and filing of charges.

This is followed by a trial of sorts, in which Congress studies and investigates the charges to determine if a crime has been committed.

Really, just like a trial by jury for us poor schmucks down here in the trenches. The accused is INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, and the accusation is NOT proof of guilt!

Answer 2

Impeachment is a process of investigation by the House and trial by the Senate. A president can be impeached with a 2/3 majority. The offenses which can lead to this are "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." If the person is acquitted by the Senate, such as Jackson and Clinton, they can be impeached without leaving office.

Answer 3

Wikepedia would say:

impeachment is the first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to remove a government official without that official's agreement.

Impeachment occurs so rarely that the term is often misunderstood . A typical misconception is to confuse it with involuntary removal from office; in fact it is only the legal statement of charges, parallelling an indictment in criminal law. An official who is impeached faces a second legislative vote (whether by the same body or another), which determines conviction, or failure to convict, on the charges embodied by the impeachment. Most constitutions require a supermajority to convict.

Either that or to make them better or "peachy".....lol

Answer 4

In simple terms-
Impeachment = Indictment

The person can only be removed if they are convicted in the trial conducted by the senate.