If the president is impeached, the process unfolds in two main stages:
- Impeachment by the House of Representatives : The House investigates and votes on articles of impeachment, which are formal charges of misconduct such as "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." A simple majority vote in the House is enough to impeach the president, which means the president is formally accused but still remains in office
- Trial and possible conviction by the Senate : After impeachment, the Senate holds a trial presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. House members act as prosecutors, the president’s lawyers defend, and the senators serve as the jury. To convict the president and remove them from office, a two-thirds supermajority of senators present must vote in favor of conviction
If convicted by the Senate:
- The president is immediately removed from office.
- The vice president then assumes the presidency, ensuring continuity of government
- The Senate may also hold a separate vote to disqualify the individual from holding any future federal office, which requires only a simple majority
- Removal from office does not protect the former president from criminal or civil prosecution for their alleged misconduct after leaving office
There is no appeal from the Senate’s decision, and the process is a constitutional check on presidential power designed to hold the president accountable for serious wrongdoing
. In summary, impeachment is the formal accusation by the House, and removal from office only occurs if the Senate convicts by a two-thirds vote, after which the vice president becomes president
