What is the impeachment process?
A. The Constitution details impeachment in Article 1, Section 2, Article 1, Section 3, Article 2, Section 3, and Article 3, Section 2. The word “details,” however, is a bit strong for what the Constitution provides. As with many things, the Constitution primarily gives us a skeleton of a process. The House brings charges for impeachment. The Senate holds a trial and votes to convict or acquit. The only way to remove a President or Vice President is through impeachment. Impeachments are not tried by a jury. The rest of the process is left open. The process begins with the House. It votes on passing articles of impeachment against a member of the Executive or Judicial branches. If the articles pass, then it is said that the person has been impeached. The vote is a straight up-or-down, majority vote. After the House votes, the impeachment goes to the Senate. There, members of the House who were advocates for impeachment become the prosecutors in the Senate trial (they are called the House
Design a flow chart showing the steps to impeachment. Research past impeachment proceedings in U.S. history. (Note: Most of these proceedings have been against federal judges.) Investigate the fates of the figures involved in Watergate, such as Nixon himself, Howard Baker, Barbara Jordan, John Dean, H. R. Haldeman, or G. Gordon Liddy, either in Nixon’s administration or in Congress. Write a short “cast of characters” summary that tells what they have been doing since Watergate. Examine the life and career of George McGovern. Who would you have voted for in 1972? Write a letter to the editor supporting your candidate. Watch the 1976 movie All the Presidents Men. How accurately do you think it portrays the events of Watergate? Imagine you are a guest at Julie Nixon’s wedding to David Eisenhower in 1968 or at Tricia Nixon’s wedding to Edward Cox in 1973. Write a letter to a friend describing this White House event. Watch Oliver Stone’s film Nixon, and research the controversies surroundin
