As long as we're tossing around the word "impeachment," can we at least use the word correctly?

[stopbush]

Impeachment in the United States is the process by which the lower house of a legislature brings charges against a civil officer of government for crimes alleged to have been committed, analogous to the bringing of an indictment by a grand jury. At the federal level, this is at the discretion of the House of Representatives.

Most impeachments have concerned alleged crimes committed while in office, though there have been a few cases in which officials have been impeached and subsequently convicted for crimes committed prior to taking office. The impeached official remains in office until a trial is held. That trial, and their removal from office if convicted, is separate from the act of impeachment itself. Analogous to a trial before a judge and jury, these proceedings are (where the legislature is bicameral) conducted by upper house of the legislature, which at the federal level is the Senate.

At the federal level, Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 of the Constitution grants to the House of Representatives "the sole power of impeachment", and Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 grants to the Senate "the sole Power to try all Impeachments". In considering articles of impeachment, the House is obligated to base any charges on the constitutional standards specified in Article II, Section 4: "The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors".

Impeachment can also occur at the state level. Each state's legislature can impeach state officials, including the governor, in accordance with their respective state constitution. (Source: Wikipedia)

So are we all clear on that?

The House impeaches the president.

The Senate does not impeach the president. The Senate tries the articles of impeachment in a Senate trial.

[KelleyKramer]

1. Thank you for this

Sadly, it needed to be posted

[DFW]

2. Agreed. It is time to get the terminology straight. This is not a Republican board.

Knowing what we are talking about, especially on such crucial issues as impeaching a president, should distinguish us from the Republicans. Let ignorance continue to be their own beloved domain.

[gademocrat7]

3. I appreciate your post.

[rickyhall]

4. Problem

We, the House, can impeach, but they, The Senate, must convict, which means McTurtle, who, I believe, may be in it just as deep as Trump. And the dominoes fall, possibly leaving no Repug standing. Sweet!

[PatSeg]

6. Yes

That is why extensive House investigations should be our first priority. Time to reveal those you have been working against America, not just Individual #1.

[End Of The Road]

5. Great clear explanation. For your next assignment...

...please write an explanation on the proper use of the word treason. Thank you!

[The Mouth]

8. According to some, like 'fascist' it's whatever they don't like

Seriously, I see 'Fascist' thrown around by people who don't know the difference between that and National Socialist, nor have ever even read Mussolini.

Treason is the most carefully defined crime in the country

[Iggo]

14. See "sociopath."

[The Mouth]

19. Words have meanings.

[JonLP24]

16. In spy world

The worst thing you can do is collude with spies they would consider that treason. The Rosenbergs did far less.

They worked with the Russians to disseminate information from a Secretary of State and not for a public has right to know kind of way. Information warfare.

[The Mouth]

18. Hate to be picky

But it wasn't "Treason"

Treason cannot happen without a declared war. It would be literally impossible for you, or I to commit Treason.

[JonLP24]

20. Russia is poisoning folks and attacked us with information warfare

Trump and Republicans sold us out for dirt on Hillary Clinton or whatever their motivations. Former CIA director said a Trump Putin press conference was nothing short of treason. With everything involved it is in the spirit of treason. The betrayal especially at a key time in US-Russia relations.

I'll settle for "compromised" instead of treason.

[Kind of Blue]

7. Thank you.

[old guy]

9. Thanks for this.

Hope lots of people read and understand.

[MineralMan]

10. Probably not. It's rare for it to be used correctly, even here.

I've given up.

[Iggo]

13. You know what? You're right.

[Garrett78]

11. And people should understand that the impeachment process is not just a vote for or against.

A lot of evidence would be put forth during the process.

We can wait until the Special Counsel concludes its investigation, but Congress can't ignore its constitutional duty because Republicans in the Senate are corrupt. That would establish a very dangerous precedent.

[Iggo]

12. Civics used to be a required class. (n/t)

[JonLP24]

15. The collusion continued after he took office

Don't worry or we should worry about that.

[CaptainTruth]

17. Thank you. I'm amazed how many folks don't realize impeachment & conviction

are two separate things.

Impeachment in the House can happen without conviction in the Senate.

[EffieBlack]

21. Thank you!

[ismnotwasm]

22. K&R

[CTyankee]

23. Yes. Remember Bill Clinton was impeached and tried in the Senate.

IIRC, his presidency was saved by a single vote.

[stopbush]

24. That is inaccurate. There were two counts of impeachment. Both needed to garner 67 votes

against Clinton for him to be removed from office.

The vote on the perjury charge was 45 guilty and 55 not guilty.

The vote on the obstruction of justice charge was 50-50.

Neither charge came anywhere near to meeting the threshold for removal. Simply put, Clinton needed only 34 not guilty votes on either charge to be acquitted.

[CTyankee]

25. Thanks. I misremembered all that. My memory sucks...

[euphorb]

27. It was Andrew Johnson who was saved from conviction by a single vote.

In 1868, Pres. Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House. For one of the charges, the Senate voted 35-19 to convict him, which fell short of the 2/3 requirement by one vote.

[California_Republic]

26. For example: Bill Clinton was impeached.

But not convicted in the Senate

[MarvinGardens]

28. Also worth noting that in any Senate trial

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will preside over the trial, not Mitch McConnell. Also, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that if impeachment happens, the Senate must have a trial. It is not optional.

[elocs]

29. Yes, words do have meanings. It's sad to see how many play fast and loose with words,

not knowing their true meanings or not caring or simply making the words mean what they choose.

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”

Sounds like that happens here as well.

[tclambert]

30. Yes. Impeachment means "to be buried alive under a ton of peaches."

Or is that enpeachment?

[stopbush]

31. Bumping as DUers continue to use the word improperly.

[Liberal Veteran]

32. Impeachment is when they don't apply enough red toner when airbrushing Trump's makeup.

And he comes out looking a shade of pinkish orange instead of the jaundiced orange we normally see.