15,697
edits
Changes
no edit summary
[[File:William-blount-wb-cooper.jpg|thumb|left|Figure 1. William Blount was the first federal government representative to be impeached.]]__NOTOC__
Impeachment is a two-part process that allows state or federal legislatures in the United States to remove either an elected or appointed official from office for "high crimes and misdemeanors." The process begins in the state or federal house of representatives. After a trial, the official then faces an impeachment vote by the lower house. House votes typically only require a majority vote for impeachment. If the official is impeached by the house, then it is then referred to the state or federal senate.
