How does impeachment of a president work? The House of Representatives acting as a super grand jury votes an indictment or impeachment. The Senate acting as a jury decides whether or not the charges brought warrant conviction. If the president is convicted by the Senate he is removed from office. If two-thirds of the Senate fails to vote to convict the charges are dropped. In that case, the president was still impeached but not convicted.
In 1868 the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Andrew Johnson. This was the first time any president was impeached. Contrary to popular belief President Nixon was never impeached. He resigned while the Watergate debacle was still under investigation. President Clinton was impeached but like Johnson, he was not convicted by the Senate so he remained in office until the end of his term.
Why is this history lesson appropriate for May 17, 2017? …
