First, a few links:
* http://history.house.gov/Institu...
* http://www.senate.gov/reference/...
* http://www.senate.gov/artandhist...
The links are from the US House of Representatives site and the US Senate site. These were chosen because at the end of the day, they are the ones who do the impeaching, and the ones who set the rules for it.
“The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
— U.S. Constitution, Article II, section 4
That's the start of that. There have been a number of examples of successful impeachments for not the President. By and large though, it does appear that a president can be impeached for crimes they committed prior to becoming the president. There needs to be an Article II, Section 4 rationale. And there needs to be an investigation into this crime. It would almost certainly not be done unless there was a high crime that had an impact on the person's ability to govern or there were overriding political concerns that made the House and Senate really want to do it. This is because impeachment serves as part of the checks and balance of the three branches of the US Government. This is also because the definition of high Crimes and Misdemeanors is not spelled out. The latter provides a great deal of opportunities.
* http://history.house.gov/Institu...
* http://www.senate.gov/reference/...
* http://www.senate.gov/artandhist...
The links are from the US House of Representatives site and the US Senate site. These were chosen because at the end of the day, they are the ones who do the impeaching, and the ones who set the rules for it.
“The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
— U.S. Constitution, Article II, section 4
That's the start of that. There have been a number of examples of successful impeachments for not the President. By and large though, it does appear that a president can be impeached for crimes they committed prior to becoming the president. There needs to be an Article II, Section 4 rationale. And there needs to be an investigation into this crime. It would almost certainly not be done unless there was a high crime that had an impact on the person's ability to govern or there were overriding political concerns that made the House and Senate really want to do it. This is because impeachment serves as part of the checks and balance of the three branches of the US Government. This is also because the definition of high Crimes and Misdemeanors is not spelled out. The latter provides a great deal of opportunities.
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