Who presides at an impeachment trial of a Vice President of the United States?

Question

If Dick Cheney is impeached by the House who will preside at his trial? The Constitution only says that the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court presides at a presidential impeachment trial.

In the Constitution, it clearly says that the President CAN'T use his pardon power during an Impeachment trial.

This is from Article One, Section 3 Clause 6: "When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside" It doesn't say anything about who will preside when a vice president or any other impeachable officer is tried by the Senate.

Answer 1

Awesome question. It appears that the internal rules of the Senate would apply, and that the presiding official would only be the Chief Justice if the powers of the Presidency had been "devolved" to the Vice-President. The rules don't specifically state who that would be other than reference to the "Presiding Officer of the Senate," who woule presumably be the Majority Leader of the Senate.

IV. When the President of the United States or the Vice President of the United States, upon whom the powers and duties of the Office of President shall have devolved, shall be impeached, the Chief Justice of the United States shall preside; and in a case requiring the said Chief Justice to preside notice shall be given to him by the Presiding Officer of the Senate of the time and place fixed for the consideration of the articles of impeachment, as aforesaid, with a request to attend; and the said Chief Justice shall be administered the oath by the Presiding Officer of the Senate and shall preside over the Senate during the consideration of said articles and upon the trial of the person impeached therein.

Answer 2

When the Senate tries someone for Impeachment, the proceeding is led by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, according to the Constitution.

Answer 3

Entire process is more than just a trial.

House of representatives votes for the impeachment. It is a seperate from the trial to remove the president from the office. The 'trail' is held in the senate and would require 2/3 vote.

Grounds for impeachment are treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Reasons include, but are not limited to:

Warrantless Searches/wire tapping/survelence

His plan of first-strike invasion of Iraq violated the War Powers Clause of the US Constitution

He knowingly lied to everyone regarding the reasons for going to war with Iraq.

His 'war of agression' violated the UN Charter, and has been called a 'crime against peace'

Violation of Genevea Convention- which includes treatment of detainees, detaining prisioners unregistered, various other 'war crimes'

His involvement in the CIA leaking of information..

Classifiing and declassifing documents for political purposes.

Politicization of the United States attorney offices

"failure by the administration to adequately provide for the need of its citizens. And as such they hold that the allegations of incompetence amount to an impeachable offense" (wiki)

Abuse of power, ignoring the constitiution when it suits his needs..

(have I listed enough? The list goes on....)


And for the record, more and more REPUBLICANS are FOR IMEACHMENT.
Senator Chuck Hagel, Ron Paul, and Dana Rohrabacher have already brought the subject up publically.

As his rating continue to decline, more and more republicans will see impeachment of bush as a means to save their own political career. They will wish to distance them selves from Bush, and standing up for impeachment is a great way to do so.

Answer 4

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court - the Senate acts as the jury after the House, acting like a grand jury, hands down the indictment.

Answer 5

As impeachment goes you start at the bottom and work your way up. Cheney is not important and whether or not he is pardoned is not important. When it is all over the only ones left with be in the Bush. So we set fire to the bush.

Answer 6

i just love how you liberals throw around the fact that bush pardoned libby? whats the big deal? look at clintons pardons.
he issued a total of 456 executive clemency orders-395 pardons and 61 commutations between 1993 and jan. 1, 2001. anyone remember mark rich?tax evasion, fraud, "trading with the enemy"-iran, during the hostage crisis. or uh, roger clinton?
as far as impeaching cheney, what do you people want to throw the country into more turmoil with a long drawn out trial? granted, cheney is a kinda shady character, but to impeach him? on what grounds? the people we should impeach are the democratic party, nancy pelosi in particular. shes another Hanio Jane. i mean what have the accomplished since they took office? they got the minimum wage raised...yipee.....now deal with the real issues. nothing but a bunch of ya hoos.

Answer 7

first there has to be a crime! the Dem's and the press spend huge amounts of time trying to dig deep for one and can't find a thing, so they 'suspect' there has been a crime and that is all the proof they need apparently. what ever happened to innocent until proved guilty?

it is so strange that NOTHING happened to Sandy Burger for shredding evidence ,,,,NO wait that was so that bill and friends would be safe. guess that was no crime there, only logical safe guards. wouldn't you at least like to know what he shredded and what he stuffed in his pants, pockets and socks? i would.

such a double standard by harry and the Dem's and they want revenge for bill's impeachment so they will keep digging and digging rather than do something constructive in congress.

Answer 8

What is the obsession with impeachment? If you can provide a link showing an impeachable offense, I'm with you. If not get on with your life because wishing it will not make it happen

Answer 9

To be impeached is resembling being indicted. rates are extra against you in Articles of Impeachment. The Senate then sits as a courtroom with the supervisor Justice of u.s. presiding and hears evidence in the case and votes to convict or acquit Edit: In Clinton's impeachment, the residing house exceeded 2 articles of Impeachment, one for Perjury and the different for Obstruction of Justice. At that element, Clinton became the 2d President to be Impeached. He became then tried in the Senate. After listening to evidence, the Senate vote became in reality down party lines and there have been no longer adequate votes to convict him, so he became acquitted of the fees he were impeached for. Andrew Johnson became additionally impeached and acquitted, i've got faith for disregarding Secretary of warfare Stimson. Richard Nixon became in no way impeached because of the fact he resigned from place of work before the judiciary committee cautioned his impeachment. greater effective Edit -- corrected call of chief Justice. greater effective Edit: Article a million section 3 of the form states, "The Senate shall have the only means to aim all impeachments. whilst sitting for that purpose, they are going to be on oath or confirmation. whilst the President of u.s. is tried, the supervisor Justice shall preside: And no person would be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the contributors present day." So 2/3 majority is had to convict. curiously, it truly is the only reference made in the excellent shape to a "chief Justice." in accordance to Wikipedia, the place of work is in lots of situations informally talked approximately as "chief Justice of the ideal courtroom." in spite of the incontrovertible fact that, call 28, country Code, Sec. a million specifies the respected call as "chief Justice of u.s.."

Answer 10

First off it wont happen, Tricky Dicky would shoot them...lol All impeachments of the executive branch follow the same rules and guidelines.