WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Impeachment has become more frequently initiated in recent U.S. politics than any time in history, but what exactly is it? Why is it used? Who can do what? When should it be used?

The Congressional Research Service has written reports detailing the roles, processes, limits and history of presidential impeachments. This article utilizes those reports to provide clarity to the process.

The Basics

Impeachment is the procedural process established in the U.S. Constitution that a state or federal government uses to charge, investigate, try, and potentially remove an official.

The process existed in English Parliament, however the ratifiers of the Constitution changed major aspects to make the current process uniquely American. One such instance was to qualifications for impeachment as “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

Through debate and in practice, qualifying an impeachable offense has been hotly contested. The description “other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” has never been clarified further in the Constitution nor any statute passed by Congress.

Some may view this as a mistake but throughout the construction of America’s laws and rights, framers intentionally left certain terms and phrasings ambiguous so they could be useful to changing political landscapes. They did not pretend to know what the future holds, they intended to provide the tools with which to respond.

One question whose answer seems pervasive is whether the offense needs to be a criminal act.

The power of each branch of Congress, the people who can be impeached and the consequences of impeachment are referenced in the Constitution.

The framers of the Constitution gave the House of Representatives the “sole Power of Impeachment,” and the Senate “sole Power to try all Impeachments.”‘ Impeachments could be brought against the “President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States.” Conviction would result in “removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust, or Profit under the United States.”‘

The Process

Impeachment may be initiated as the result of various actions and events, including the receipt and referral of information from an outside source, investigations by congressional committees under their general authority or the introduction of a House resolution proposing impeachment or directing a committee to investigate a federal official.

Step 1: An outside source refers information, a committee investigation makes a recommendation, or a House member can submit a resolution concerning impeachment in the same way that all House resolutions are submitted.

A resolution calling for the impeachment of an officer will be referred to the Judiciary Committee; a resolution directing an investigation of an officer will be referred to the Rules Committee. If one of those committees approves the resolution, a vote can be taken.

Step 2: The House of Representatives brings articles (charges) of impeachment against an official.

Step 3: If the House adopts the articles by a simple majority vote, the official has been impeached.

Step 4: The Senate holds an impeachment trial. In the case of a president, the U.S. Supreme Court chief justice presides.

A committee from the House of Representatives, called “managers,” act as prosecutors before the Senate.

Step 5: If found guilty, the official is removed from office. They may never be able to hold elected office again. If they are not found guilty, they may continue to serve in office.

Who has been impeached?

The House has officially impeached twenty-one individuals: one Supreme Court justice, fourteen federal judges, one Senator, two Cabinet members, and three Presidents.

The presidents who have been successfully impeached are Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump (twice).

Although there have been four successful votes for impeachment, no president has ever been removed from office as a result.

Three Articles of Impeachment were brought against Richard Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal. However, he resigned before a vote could be taken, causing the House to consider the Articles moot. The decision to resign came after the “smoking gun” tape was released to the public. Even his most loyal defenders signaled their intent to impeach and convict.

In Nixon’s stead, Vice President Gerald Ford assumed Office of the President on August 9th, 1974. A month later, Ford pardoned Nixon for all crimes he had “committed or may have committed or taken part in” as president.