What it actually is

Impeachment is the formal accusation of misconduct against certain federal officials — including the President, Vice President, and other civil officers. The Constitution lists grounds such as treason, bribery, and "high Crimes and Misdemeanors," a phrase that has been interpreted over time.

Impeachment itself is not a criminal conviction. Think of it like an indictment: the House of Representatives brings charges. Only if the Senate later convicts can the official be removed from office or be disqualified from holding future federal office.

How it works

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach. That means House members investigate and vote on one or more articles of impeachment — formal charges against the official. A simple majority vote in the House is required to approve articles of impeachment.

If the House approves articles, the process moves to the Senate, which holds a trial. The Constitution gives the Senate the sole power to try impeachments. Conviction requires the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators present.

Upon conviction, the Senate may remove the official from office and may also vote to disqualify the person from holding future federal office. The Senate's judgment does not include criminal penalties; separate criminal charges, if any, are handled in ordinary courts.

A real example

In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon resigned while the House was preparing to vote on articles of impeachment arising from the Watergate scandal. His resignation ended the congressional process against him.

Other historical cases include presidents and federal officials who were impeached by the House and later tried in the Senate; some were acquitted and remained in office, while others were removed or resigned before the process concluded.

Why it matters to you

Impeachment is one of the Constitution's key checks on federal power: it lets elected representatives hold high officials accountable. That affects who leads the government and how public power is exercised.

Even when impeachment doesn't remove an official, the process can shape policy, public trust, and future elections — all of which have real effects on everyday life and government performance.

Common misunderstandings

Impeachment is not the same as conviction. The House impeaches (accuses); the Senate convicts (removes). An impeached person can still face criminal charges in court, and a criminal conviction does not automatically require impeachment.

Also, impeachment applies to federal civil officers, not to private citizens, and it is a political-constitutional process rather than a standard criminal trial with a jury and criminal sentencing.