How Impeachment Works in the United States

Impeachment is the constitutional process through which Congress can remove the President, Vice President, federal judges, and other civil officers of the United States for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” The process is divided between the two chambers of Congress: the House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment (bringing charges), while the Senate has the sole power to conduct the trial and, upon conviction, remove the official from office.

The impeachment process begins in the House, typically through the Judiciary Committee, which investigates the allegations and drafts articles of impeachment — formal charges specifying the conduct that warrants removal. The full House then debates and votes on each article. A simple majority is required to impeach. If the House votes to impeach, the case moves to the Senate for trial, with the Chief Justice of the United States presiding in the case of a presidential impeachment.

During the Senate trial, House managers present the case for removal, and the impeached official (through counsel) presents a defense. Senators serve as both judge and jury. A two-thirds vote (67 senators) is required for conviction and removal from office. In the entire history of the United States, no President has been removed through impeachment, though three Presidents have been impeached by the House: Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Donald Trump in 2019 and 2021. Richard Nixon resigned before a House vote in 1974.

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