Guide to Government · How Government Works
How Impeachment Works
Understand impeachment as a constitutional charge, a Senate trial, and a public accountability process — not an ordinary criminal trial.
The Basic Path
Inquiry
Committees investigate facts, gather records, hear testimony, and decide whether charges should be drafted.
Articles
Articles of impeachment state the charges the House is being asked to approve.
House Vote
A majority vote in the House impeaches — similar to bringing a formal charge, not a conviction.
Senate Trial
The Senate holds a trial. Conviction and removal require a two-thirds vote of senators present.
What Impeachment Can and Cannot Do
Impeachment is a constitutional remedy for public office, not an ordinary criminal trial. A person removed through impeachment may still face criminal or civil proceedings separately — but impeachment itself only decides whether the person should remain in office, and whether future federal office should be barred.
House role: charges begin here
The House decides whether alleged conduct is serious enough to impeach.
Senate role: trial and judgment
The Senate hears the impeachment trial and votes on conviction, removal, and possible disqualification.
Courts: a separate legal process
Criminal or civil accountability, if any, happens entirely outside the impeachment judgment.
