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World Almanac Archive

United States History: Impeachment in U.S. History

 


World Almanac, 2008 Edition

United States History

Impeachment in U.S. History

The U.S. Constitution provides for impeachment and removal from office of federal officials on grounds of "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" (Article II, Sect. 4). Impeachment is the bringing of charges by the House of Representatives. It is followed by a Senate trial; a two-thirds Senate vote is needed for conviction and removal from office.

In 1868, Andrew Johnson became the first president impeached by the House; he was tried but not convicted by the Senate. In 1974, impeachment articles against Pres. Richard Nixon, in connection with the Watergate scandal, were voted by the House Judiciary Committee; he resigned Aug. 9, before the full House could vote on impeaching him. In 1998, Pres. Bill Clinton was impeached by the House in connection with covering up a relationship with a former White House intern Monica Lewinsky; he was tried in the Senate in 1999 and acquitted.

A list of impeached federal officials follows:

Name Position Held Senate Trial
Began
Action Taken Date
William Blount Senator, TN Dec. 17, 1798 Charges dismissed Jan. 14, 1799
John Pickering District Court Judge, NH Mar. 3, 1803 Removed from office Mar. 12, 1804
Samuel Chase Supreme Court Assoc. Justice Nov. 30, 1804 Acquitted Mar. 1, 1805
James H. Peck District Court Judge, MO Apr. 26, 1830 Acquitted Jan. 31, 1831
West H. Humphreys District Court Judge, TN May 7, 1862 Removed from office June 26, 1862
Andrew Johnson President Feb. 25, 1868 Acquitted May 26, 1868
William W. Belknap Secretary of War Mar. 3, 1876 Acquitted Aug. 1, 1876
Charles Swayne District Court Judge, FL Dec. 14, 1904 Acquitted Feb. 27, 1905
Robert W. Archbald Commerce Court, Assoc. Judge July 13, 1912 Removed from office Jan. 13, 1913
George W. English District Court Judge, IL Nov. 4, 1926* Charges dismissed Nov. 4, 1926
Harold Louderback District Court Judge, CA May 15, 1933 Acquitted May 24, 1933
Halsted L. Ritter District Court Judge, FL Apr. 6, 1936 Removed from office Apr. 17, 1936
Harry E. Claiborne District Court Judge, NV Oct. 7, 1986 Removed from office Oct. 9, 1986
Alcee L. Hastings District Court Judge, FL Oct. 18, 1989 Removed from office Oct. 20, 1989
Walter L. Nixon District Court Judge, MS Nov. 1, 1989 Removed from office Nov. 3, 1989
Bill (William J.) Clinton President Jan. 7, 1999 Acquitted Feb. 12, 1999

* Date of resignation, after which the impeachment charges were dismissed.


Modern Language Association (MLA)

Citation:  "United States History: Impeachment in U.S. History."  The World Almanac and Book of Facts.  2008.  Facts On File News Services.  4 July 2009  <http://www.2facts.com>.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Citation format:  The title of the article.  (Year of Publication).  In The world almanac and book of facts.  Retrieved Month Day, Year, from

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Record URL:

http://www.2facts.com/RecordUrl.asp?article=/wa/search/wpre00400.asp

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