Reviewing the Legal Standards and Procedure by which Officials of the United States Can be Impeached – Political Studies (original) (raw)
At the height of the growing controversy over the continuing acts of misdemeanors and high crimes being committed by incumbent president Donald Trump, calls for impeachment at the House of Representative, have now become louder. At the upper house of Congress, in which majority of the seats are occupied by Republican Senators, the general expectation is that they intend to block any resolution officially calling for Trump’s impeachment.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced that the House of Representatives will move forward with impeachment proceedings.
The deafening silence of Republican Senators are indicative that they still intend to protect Trump despite his admission of trying to make the Ukrainian president dig up dirt against Joe Biden, currently the leading Democratic presidential candidate. In doing so, it is obvious that they are still putting their political interests over and above their duties to protect, not only the sanctity of the U.S. election process, but the interest of the entire country as well.
Three Former Republican Government Officials Emerge to Challenge Trump’s Re-Election Bid
Three (3) members of the Republican Party, all former government officials, have voiced their agreement that Trump is indeed committing impeachable acts. At the same time, they have also announced their decision to challenge the incumbent president in the 2020 presidential elections, which could weaken Trump”s chances of being re-elected as president of the United States.
The three Trump-candidacy challengers are former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, former House Representative and radio talk show host, Joe Walsh and former South Carolina Congressman and governor of the “Appalachian Trail, Mark Sanford.
Yet Trump has made it possible to cancel G.O.P, primary elections in four (4) states, namely Kansas, Arizona, South Carolina and Nevada, dampening the chances of any of the 3 former Republican officials to be nominated as official presidential candidate of the Republican Party.
Nonetheless, the 3 GOP members are voicing their support for Congressional impeachment proceedings. At the same time, they are also rebuking Republican members of Congress for putting their political interests over and above the interests of the entire nation.
What these 3 Republican politicians foresee is that if Republican Senators continue to do so, they will eventually destroy the reputation and trustworthiness of the Republican caucus.
Important Concepts about the Legal Standard and Procedure of Impeachment in the U.S.
Article II § 4 states that
”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.”
Article I § 2 of the United States Constitution gives the House of Representatives the sole mandate to formally impeach any of the aforestated person mentioned in Article II § 4.
Article I § 3 on the other hand, gives Senate the power to try the impeached government official and decide whether there is cause for removal from office or conviction. During an impeachment trial, the Supreme Court Chief Justice shall preside. In addition, a decision to convict requires the concurrence of two thirds of the members present.