impeachment
Formal misconduct charges
Impeachment is the formal process of charging a government official with misconduct.
In the United States, the House of Representatives votes to impeach; the Senate then conducts a trial that may result in removal from office.
Impeachment itself is the accusation, not the conviction: Three presidents have been impeached, but none removed.
The word also applies outside politics—to impeach testimony is to challenge its credibility.
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- senateLegislative governing body
- houseResidential building
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
checks · balances · separation · powers · executive · judiciary · legislative · amendment
Presiding judge, highest court
- presidingLeading a formal gathering
- verdictOfficial court decision
- convictionFirmly held belief
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
two-thirds · removal · defense · prosecution · managers · deliberation · oath · gallery
Official evidence-gathering sessions
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
- witnessOne who attests
investigation · articles · managers · inquiry · committee · vote · resolution · charges
Act of taking away
- oustingForcible removal from position
- convictionFirmly held belief
- unseatingRemoving from a position
- dismissalRemoval from position
succession · disqualification · office · expulsion · resignation · departure · vacancy · line of succession
Improper professional behavior
- abuse of powerMisusing entrusted authority
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
obstruction · cover-up · ethics · violation · breach · dereliction · betrayal · wrongdoing
37th U.S. president
- TrumpAmerican political surname
- JohnsonPatronymic meaning son-of
- Watergate1970s political crisis
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
Clinton · precedent · legacy · articles · managers · historical · landmark · constitutional crisis
Biased toward one side
- bipartisanInvolving both major parties
- caucusParty selection meeting
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- majorityOver half of total
minority · public opinion · polling · media · spin · legacy · midterms · backlash
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- senateLegislative governing body
- houseResidential building
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
oversight · checks · balances · separation · powers · executive · judiciary · legislative · amendment · articles
chief justice
Presiding judge, highest court
- presidingLeading a formal gathering
- verdictOfficial court decision
- convictionFirmly held belief
acquittal · two-thirds · removal · defense · prosecution · managers · deliberation · oath · gallery · chamber
hearings
Official evidence-gathering sessions
witness · investigation · articles · managers · inquiry · committee · vote · resolution · charges · deliberation
removal
Act of taking away
- oustingForcible removal from position
- convictionFirmly held belief
- unseatingRemoving from a position
dismissal · succession · disqualification · office · expulsion · resignation · departure · vacancy · line of succession
misconduct
Improper professional behavior
- abuse of powerMisusing entrusted authority
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
perjury · obstruction · cover-up · ethics · violation · breach · dereliction · betrayal · wrongdoing · culpability
Nixon
37th U.S. president
Clinton · acquittal · precedent · legacy · articles · managers · historical · landmark · constitutional crisis · Saturday Night Massacre
partisan
Biased toward one side
- bipartisanInvolving both major parties
- caucusParty selection meeting
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
majority · minority · public opinion · polling · media · spin · legacy · midterms · backlash · support
- governance reformsconstitutional convention, constitutional court, amendment process, bill of rights, checks and balances
- impeachmenthigh crimes, Senate trial, misdemeanors, removal from office, House vote
- political scandalsWatergate, Iran-Contra, Whitewater, Teapot Dome, coverup
- scandalsscandal, controversy, coverup, cover-up, disgrace
- Trump EraDonald Trump, MAGA, Trump Tower, Mar-a-Lago, Ivanka Trump
- political theaterkabuki, agitprop, grandstanding, political drama, posturing
impeachmentacquittal
Formal clearing of charges
exoneration · vindication · absolution · clearance · confirmation
impeachmentcommendation
Formal expression of approval
tribute · vote of confidence · acclaim · applause · endorsement
impeachmentinauguration
Formal beginning ceremony
installation · confirmation · investiture · reelection · swearing-in
- impeachment trialLegislative removal proceeding
- impeachment inquiryLegislative misconduct investigation
- articles of impeachmentFormal charges against officials
- impeachment hearingsCongressional process to remove officials
- impeachment processFormal governmental removal mechanism
- impeachment proceedingsFormal process to oust officials