LockUpBush.com - Los Angeles Area Impeachment Center |
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a free source of information about the process and progress of impeachment
Articles of Impeachment
Articles of Impeachment are a set of formal charges. Many Articles have been proposed by impeachment activists. The real Articles of Impeachment may eventually be drafted by the House Judiciary Committee.
- Phil Burk on ImpeachBush.TV
- David Swanson on AfterDowningStreet.org
- Bob Fertik of Democrats.com
- Center for Constitutional Rights
- Congresswoman Cynthia Mckinney
- Ramsey Clark, Former Attorney General of the Untied States
- Francis A Boyle, professor of law, University of Illinois School of Law
- Jason Feldman
The Process of Impeachment
Initiating Impeachment
There are several ways that impeachment can be initiated. The ones that have worked before are listed in Section 603 of the Jefferson's manual. They include:
- A member of the House introduces an impeachment resolution.
- A grand jury submits charges.
- An investigating committee submits charges.
- A state petitions Congress with a set of charges. (A city could also do this but it hasn't succeeded yet.)
The Steps to Impeachment
The Constitution defines the role of the House and Senate in impeachment.
- The House Judiciary Committee conducts the inquiry or investigation into the crimes.
- The House Judiciary Committee approves Articles of Impeachment (charges) by a majority vote.
- The House of Representative debates each article. If at least one passes with a 50.5% majority vote, then the individual is "impeached".
- The Senate conducts a trial and can convict with a 2/3 majority of those Senators present.
- If convicted then the person is removed from office.
It is possible to skip steps 1 & 2 if a Representative introduces Articles of Impeachment directly. But that resolution would most likely just get referred to the Judiciary for step #1. That is what happened with Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment for impeach Dick Cheney.
Our Job
We need to pressure the House Judiciary Committee to get started. Here is a list of members. Please contact your representative and ask them to get the ball rolling. Once the impeachment process starts, it is important that we continue to support our representatives all the way through.
List of Judiciary Committee Members with website and contact info.