"Through
the Years: Impeachments in U.S. History"
Directions
- Read
the following excerpts from the Constitution and complete
the graphic organizer.
-
 Click
here to download and print the graphic organizer in PDF
format.
Part I. Understanding the Impeachment Process
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Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution says, in part, “The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of Impeachment.”
Article 1, Section 3 of the United States Constitution says, in part “The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the members present.”
Article II, Section 4 of the United States Constitution says, “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.”
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Part II
President Nixon was neither the first or last American president to be threatened with impeachment proceedings. In 1868, the United States House of Representatives issued eleven articles of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson. In 1974, the House Judiciary Committee produced three articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon. Before the full House could vote, Nixon resigned. In 1998, the House Judiciary Committee introduced four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, two of which were approved by the entire House.
Directions
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Read the summaries from the articles of impeachment issued against each president.
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In the chart provided, summarize the most serious accusations.
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Then, in the next column, determine if the accusations constituted "high crimes and misdemeanors" and warranted an impeachment.
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Your teacher will divide the class into the "House" and the "Senate", with approximately 2/3 of the class in the House and the remaining 1/3 in the Senate.
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The House will briefly debate the accusations against Johnson and decide whether or not to impeach him. If the House does impeach Johnson, then the Senate will vote on whether to convict him.
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Repeat Procedure #5 for Presidents Nixon and Clinton.
| President |
Most Serious Accusations |
Do these accusations constitute high crimes and misdemeanors? Is there a valid reason to impeach? Why or why not? |
| Andrew Johnson |
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| Richard Nixon |
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| Bill Clinton |
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For Further Thought:
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In your opinion, what constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors"?
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Has Congress ever impeached a president for behavior that you do not consider being a "high crime or misdemeanor?" If so, why do you think Congress did this?
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Does the Congressional power of impeachment assist or impede the system of checks and balances in the United States? Explain.
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