HoR's power of impeachment?

Question

Why was the power of impeachment endowed onto the House of Representatives?

And for the Senate, what power is unique to it, and why was it bestowed this power?

Thanks. :)

Answer 1

Impeachment is the duty of the Congress as a check and balance mechanism against the Executive Department so that the President will not be able to become a dictator.

Answer 2

The Constitution wisely provided that every law (and other action) passed by Congress has to be approved by both houses. Laws originate in the House, they debate them and make changes and compromises, then when they are approved by the House they go to the Senate.

With an impeachment it's the same. The House has impeachment hearings and votes to impeach or not. That impeachment is really like an indictment, meaning that they have found enough evidence to try the case. The Senate then makes the decision whether the defendant is guilty and should be removed from office. But while impeachment in the House takes only a simple majority, removal from office takes a supermajority.

In the case of Bill Clinton's impeachment, the House voted to impeach strictly along party lines. In the Senate, knowing they didn't have the required supermajority, the Republican leadership refused even to bring the matter to a vote. An alternative proposal to -censure- Clinton (made by a Democrat!) was also a non-starter.

Answer 3

The House of Representatives were given the power of impeachment as a check against the power of the Executive branch. The Senate unique power is the power to try all impeachments as a balance to the House of Representatives power to impeach.