How does impeachment proceed?
If the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee decides that a formal inquiry is warranted, it seeks a House vote to authorise such an investigation. An impeachment resolution, passed in the House by a simple majority, enables the judiciary committee to develop “articles of impeachment” which are, essentially, charges. This process can take several months. Then the House of Representatives votes on the articles. If approved they are passed on to the Senate, which convenes a special trial – full impeachment proceedings – to remove the president from office. In this trial House members serve as the prosecution and the chief justice serves as the judge. If two-thirds of the sitting senators find the president guilty, he is removed from office. If Bill Clinton is removed, Vice-President Al Gore will automatically take over the presidency until elections in 2000.
