Impeachment Definition
Impeachment is a fundamental constitutional power belonging to congress.
Impeachment definition. The term impeachment is commonly used to mean removing someone from office but it actually refers only to the filing of formal charges. Impeachment may occur at the federal level or the state level. Noun the impeaching of a public official before an appropriate tribunal. In great britain the house of commons serves as prosecutor and the house of lords as judge in an impeachment proceeding.
To charge with a crime or misdemeanor specifically. Impeachment is a process in the house of representatives that makes up the first major step required to remove a government official from office. Impeachment a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office. Impeachment in common law a proceeding instituted by a legislative body to address serious misconduct by a public official.
Impeachment in the united states is the process by which a legislature usually in the form of the lower house brings charges against a civil officer of government for crimes alleged to have been committed analogous to the bringing of an indictment by a grand jury. It is similar to an indictment in criminal law and thus it is essentially the statement of charges against the official. Although the word impeachment is sometimes used to refer to the process by which any member of the house may impeach an officer of the united states under a question of constitutional privilege see 3 h inds precedents of the house of representatives of the united states 2398 impeachment of president john tyler by a member and 2469 impeachment of judge john swayne by a member 1907 the word as used in article ii 4 refers to impeachment by vote of the house the. In some countries the impeached official is provisionally removed while in others he remains in office during the trial.
Impeachment has been used infrequently in the. Entry 1 of 2 transitive verb. Impeachment a process that is used to charge try and remove public officials for misconduct while in office. Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official.
In congress or a state legislature the presentation of formal charges against a public official by the lower house trial to be before the upper house. Demonstration that a witness is less worthy of belief.