POL 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Perjury, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Telephone Tapping
14 May 2018
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Thursday, February 1, 2018
Introduction to Politics – Week 5 Notes
o A Short Story of Impeachment – Brunner (2017)
o Only in presidential systems.
o The right to impeach/remove the president and other high public officials is
in the US Constitution (Article 1, Section 1 & 2).
o Section 4 of the Constitution lays the grounds for impeachment “treason,
bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
o The 2 steps required for removing an official:
o 1) a formal accusation/impeachment from the house of
representatives.
▪ Must present a reason for investigation.
▪ Then once you have the investigation and you find something –
they need a majority vote (at least 218).
o 2) a trial/conviction of the senate.
▪ A majority vote of 2/3 to convict.
o High crimes and misdemeanors is vastly encompassed, but include: bribery,
perjury, treason, misuse of power, and serious misconduct. However, it
does not include partisan discord.
o Since 1797 the house of representatives has impeached 16 federal officials.
o These include two presidents, a cabinet member, a senator, a justice of the
Supreme Court, and eleven federal judges.
o The Senate has convicted and removed 7 (all judges).
o Not including the office holders who have resigned rather than face
impeachment, most notably, President Richard M. Nixon.
o 2 U.S. presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson, (7th) and William J.
Clinton, (42nd).
o Johnson was acquitted at trial.
o Bill Clintons investigation was originally because of real-estate laundry in the
70’s/80’s. However, the sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky lead to his
impeachment, which included the following grounds: (1) grand jury perjury,
civil suit perjury, (2) obstruction of justice, and abuse of power.
o The whole impeachment was 100% political.
o However, there was not enough evidence for the majority to vote for
conviction.
o There have been 35 attempts of impeachment.
o Only 5 have gone to trial (because it cripples congress with a long trial).
o For example, President Richard Nixon chose to resign (rather than undergo
a public trial).
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