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For the executive branch, only those who have allegedly committed "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" may be impeached. Although treason and bribery are obvious, the Constitution is silent on what constitutes a "high crime or misdemeanor." Several commentators have suggested that Congress alone may decide for itself what constitutes an impeachable offense. In 1970, then-Representative Gerald R. Ford defined the criteria as he saw it: "An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history." Four years later, Ford would assume the Presidency, following a vote to approve impeachment proceedings against Richard Nixon.

2007-02-09 01:03:20 · answer #1 · answered by Andi 3 · 1 0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment

In the constitutions of several countries, 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. The second stage is called conviction.

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.

One tradition of impeachment has its origins in the law of England and Wales, where the procedure last took place in 1806. Impeachment exists under constitutional law in many nations around the world, including Kyrgyzstan,[1] the United States, India, Brazil, Russia, the Philippines, and the Republic of Ireland. See also Constitution of Kyrgyzstan.

Etymologically, the word "impeachment" derives from Latin roots expressing the idea of becoming caught or entrapped, and has analogues in the modern French verb empêcher (to prevent) and the modern English impede. Medieval popular etymology also associated it (wrongly) with derivations from the Latin impetere (to attack). (In its more frequent and more technical usage, impeachment of a person in the role of a witness is the act challenging the honesty or credibility of that person.)

The process should not be confused with recall election. A recall election is usually initiated by voters and can be based on "political charges", for example mismanagement, whereas impeachment is initiated by a constitutional body (usually a legislative body) and is usually based, but not always, on indictable offenses. The process of removing the official is also different.

2007-02-09 09:22:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

I would hope an impeachable offense, such as treason, betrayal or endangerment of the country. I wouldn't exactly call Clinton's "private experience" a reason for impeachment.

2007-02-09 09:22:59 · answer #3 · answered by Huey Freeman 5 · 1 3

Treason is one reason Ask your History Teacher about this

2007-02-09 09:33:33 · answer #4 · answered by hobo 7 · 1 0

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