Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
What If the President Is Impeached?
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History
Images
impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson

impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson
impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson The impeachment trial of U.S. President Andrew Johnson, as depicted in the March 28, 1868, issue of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.

What If the President Is Impeached?

How, when, and why impeachment happens.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written by
Brian Duignan
Brian Duignan is a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. His subject areas include philosophy, law, social science, politics, political theory, and religion.
Brian Duignan
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated:

Impeachment proceedings begin when the president is accused of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” (U.S. Constitution, Article II, section 4). The House of Representatives votes on articles of impeachment, or formal charges of misconduct. If approved by a majority of members, the president is impeached, though he or she remains in office. The next step in the impeachment process is a trial in the Senate. While there is debate over whether the Senate is constitutionally required to take up the matter, it has held trials in past cases. Selected members of the House act as prosecutors, the chief justice of the Supreme Court serves as judge, and the senators are the jurors. If at least two-thirds of the senators then present vote for conviction, the president is removed from office and replaced with the vice president. The decision of the Senate cannot be appealed to the federal courts. After leaving office, the former president may still be prosecuted for his or her alleged misconduct.

Only three presidents—Andrew Johnson (1868), Bill Clinton (1998), and Donald Trump (twice, in 2019 and 2021)—have been impeached. Neither Johnson nor Clinton were convicted, and Trump’s first impeachment resulted in an acquittal by the Senate. One president, Richard Nixon, resigned his office in 1974 when it became clear that he would be impeached by the House and likely convicted by the Senate. Nixon was pardoned for his alleged misconduct by his successor, Gerald Ford.

Brian Duignan