Articles Of Impeachment Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Articles Of Impeachment, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Articles Of Impeachment?

(n) Articles of Impeachment is the charges made against a person holding a public office with whom statutory procedures to remove him from such office is initiated. The impeachment motion is voted in the house based on the Articles of Impeachment.

History and Meaning of Articles Of Impeachment

The Articles of Impeachment is a list of charges officially presented by the House of Representatives against a federal officer, for his/her removal as per statutory procedures. The impeachment process has always been the subject of intense debate, with various interpretations of the precise steps required differing between legal scholars. The Constitution of the United States gives the power of impeachment solely to the House of Representatives. The Senators act as jurors during the impeachment trial but cannot influence the process to initiate impeachment. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were the only two U.S. presidents ever impeached, although neither was removed from office.

Examples of Articles Of Impeachment

  1. In 2019, President Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on two Articles of Impeachment, abuse of power, and obstruction of Congress.
  2. In 2020, a lieutenant governor of a state was impeached over allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of authority.
  3. In 1974, Articles of Impeachment were put forth against President Richard Nixon over allegations of his involvement in the Watergate scandal.

Legal Terms Similar to Articles Of Impeachment

  1. Impeachment: The act of charging a government official with unlawful activity or misconduct with the aim of removing that person from office.
  2. High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The US Constitution lists those crimes that a government official could commit that would lead to impeachment, or high crimes or misdemeanors. This is a broad term that covers a range of activities that could be considered an impeachable offense.
  3. Censure: This is a formal statement of disapproval issued by the House of Representatives or Senate against one of its members, which does not cause them to be removed from office.