Most countries in the world are governed by democracy. Under this form of governance, the people reserve the power to select and remove the president or any public officer. The selection process happens through elections after which the most popular candidate forms the government as the head of state. However, his or her removal from office happens only through the recommendation by the House of Representatives as described by the constitution through the impeachment process. It may be initiated if the head of state stands accused of gross misconduct and subsequent violation of the constitution in a manner that threatens the country’s progress. In Australia, the federal Assembly holds the power to remove a sitting president before the constitutional
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Few years after the declaration of independence, in 1797, Senator Blount William faced failed impeachment process on the grounds of the ambiguity of impeachment jurisdictions. In 1804, the Senate acquitted Justice Samuel Chase after a prosecution motion had been leveled against him. In the same year, Justice Alcee Hastings and other seven federal judges were impeached for bribery. In 1868, William Belknap, a cabinet secretary resigned just before the accusations were leveled against …show more content…
The constitution hardly gives guidelines as to who befits the title. A member of the Congress or Senate could commit crimes or misconduct that defaces the people s/he represents. Some people consider for a fact that members of the House of Representatives are not officers of the public and, as a result, fail to fit within the impeachable category. Others believe that any person who serves the public or acts in the interest of the public is a state officer. The latter definition puts all elected, nominated and appointed persons under the category of impeachable people. This limbo was exhibited in the impeachment of Senator William Blount, whose charges were dropped due to lack of jurisdiction on the grounds that he was not a public officer.
According to Jefferson’s Manual, the process of impeachment commences after charges are brought to the floor of the house, by a member’s resolution to a committee, grand jury, president’s message, or incriminating reports from an investigation a House Committee.
The impeachment process goes through two steps. A simple majority is required to ratify the impeachment. A successful motion moves to the Senate where charges are leveled against the president under the moderation of the chief justice of the United States. However, the constitution is unclear as to who should preside over the removal of any other official, including the vice President.
Few years after the declaration of independence, in 1797, Senator Blount William faced failed impeachment process on the grounds of the ambiguity of impeachment jurisdictions. In 1804, the Senate acquitted Justice Samuel Chase after a prosecution motion had been leveled against him. In the same year, Justice Alcee Hastings and other seven federal judges were impeached for bribery. In 1868, William Belknap, a cabinet secretary resigned just before the accusations were leveled against …show more content…
The constitution hardly gives guidelines as to who befits the title. A member of the Congress or Senate could commit crimes or misconduct that defaces the people s/he represents. Some people consider for a fact that members of the House of Representatives are not officers of the public and, as a result, fail to fit within the impeachable category. Others believe that any person who serves the public or acts in the interest of the public is a state officer. The latter definition puts all elected, nominated and appointed persons under the category of impeachable people. This limbo was exhibited in the impeachment of Senator William Blount, whose charges were dropped due to lack of jurisdiction on the grounds that he was not a public officer.
According to Jefferson’s Manual, the process of impeachment commences after charges are brought to the floor of the house, by a member’s resolution to a committee, grand jury, president’s message, or incriminating reports from an investigation a House Committee.
The impeachment process goes through two steps. A simple majority is required to ratify the impeachment. A successful motion moves to the Senate where charges are leveled against the president under the moderation of the chief justice of the United States. However, the constitution is unclear as to who should preside over the removal of any other official, including the vice President.