Impeachment

1. Impeachment • Constitution outlines the way to remove officials from office when they have failed at their job- impeachment.

2. To Be Removed From Office By Impeachment: • A person must be found guilty of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors (something more serious than a traffic ticket)

3. How the Process Works: • House of Rep must believe that an official has committed one of the offenses listed above • House then comes up with a list of charges against the official • Senate acts as a jury and hears both sides of the case against the official • When the President is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court acts as the judge • 2/3 of Senate must agree in order for the official to be convicted of the charges and removed from office

4. History of Impeachment: • No President has ever been removed from office by impeachment • 2 Presidents have gone through part or all of the impeachment process

5. Andrew Johnson • 1867- Andrew Johnson was charged with several offenses- House voted to impeach him. The Senate held the trial, and when the vote was taken, Johnson escaped being convicted by only one vote!

6. Bill Clinton • 1998- Bill Clinton was impeached by the House, charged with perjury, and obstruction of justice b/c he withheld info about his affair with the intern, the Senate found him not guilty

7. Organization of Independent Agencies Independent agencies- agencies that operate outside the executive departments • Independent Executive Agencies • Organized like executive departments • Do not have cabinet status • Example: NASA • Independent Regulatory Commissions • Regulate parts of the economy • Are quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial • Exist outside of presidential control • Government Corporations • Carry out business-like activities • Example: U.S. Postal Service