How does the impeachment trial work?

After hearing the charges, the Senate usually deliberates in private. The Constitution requires a two-thirds supermajority to convict a person being impeached. The Senate enters judgment on its decision, whether that be to convict or acquit, and a copy of the judgment is filed with the Secretary of State.

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Impeachment charges must be drafted in the House of Representatives. The trial for the person undergoing such occurs in the Senate, requiring two-thirds of the members present (currently 67 out of 100 senators, assuming all present) to successfully remove a public official from office.

Impeachment in the United States is the process by which a legislature (usually in the form of the lower house) brings charges against a civil officer of government for crimes alleged to have been committed, analogous to the bringing of an indictment by a grand jury. Impeachment may occur at the federal level or the state level. The federal House of Representatives can impeach federal officials, including the president, and each state’s legislature can impeach state officials, including the governor, in accordance with their respective federal or state constitution.

Most impeachments have concerned alleged crimes committed while in office, though there have been a few cases in which officials have been impeached and subsequently convicted for crimes committed prior to taking office.[1] The impeached official remains in office until a trial is held. That trial, and removal from office if convicted, is separate from the act of impeachment itself.

In impeachment proceedings, the defendant does not risk forfeiture of life, liberty, or property. According to the Constitution, the only penalties allowed to be imposed by the Senate are removal from office and disqualification from holding any federal office in the future.

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Why is President Trump being impeached?

On December 16, the House Judiciary Committee released a report specifying criminal bribery and wire fraud charges as part of the abuse of power charge. On December 18, the House voted mostly along party lines to impeach the president on both charges.

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This Impeachment proceedings are of a political nature. Democrats are afraid of his success. Trump says: Being impeach “By these radical left lunatics, I get impeached. But that’s okay, the farmers are sticking with Trump.”

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Publishers Note: Many years ago I predicted a third party would emerge. The Democratic Party doesn’t know what to do They have been taken over by radical Socialist that are “Far Left”. Citizens of this country don’t seem to like far left. Now there is talk about a third party by the new young politicians. They think they can just change the Constitution and the moderate Democrats are falling right into the trap. It’s not that easy, for instance if Sanders loses and they run him as a third party candidate, it will almost insure Trump a victory by splitting the Democratic voter in half.  As far as I can see no laws have been broken. Presidents and leaders of our country negotiate like this all the time but it has never been called a high crime! They have to prove intent! It is ridiculous! I looked up the rules of impeachment and the charges described were the first two articles named in the Constitution. It also says they will have an investigation after a crime to prove that a crime has been committed, not before the crime is committed. I believe the House is putting pressure on Trump in hopes he will react and say or do something to make it worse.

What say you???   tloury@att.net

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CEP – Click to learn more

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