What is the House's role in impeachment?

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach federal officials, meaning the House brings formal charges of high crimes and misdemeanors against officials accused of serious misconduct. This power is set out in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution. Impeachment in the House is not a determination of guilt but a formal accusation, similar to the way a grand jury indicts in a criminal case. The House decides whether there is enough evidence to bring charges; the Senate then conducts the trial and decides whether to convict and remove.

The House impeachment process typically begins with an investigation, often by the House Judiciary Committee or another committee with jurisdiction over the alleged misconduct. The committee holds hearings, gathers evidence, and may interview witnesses. If the committee finds sufficient grounds, it drafts articles of impeachment specifying the charges. Each article describes a particular offense alleged to constitute a high crime or misdemeanor. The committee then votes on whether to recommend the articles to the full House.

The full House debates the articles and votes on each one separately. If a majority of the House votes to approve an article, the official is impeached on that article. The House then designates managers, members of the House who present the case at the Senate trial.

The House has impeached 21 individuals throughout American history, including three Presidents (Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump twice), one Cabinet member (Secretary of War William Belknap), one Supreme Court justice (Samuel Chase), one senator (William Blount, who was expelled rather than impeached), and 15 federal judges. Eight of these impeachments resulted in conviction and removal by the Senate, all of them federal judges. Recent presidential impeachments have all ended in acquittal.

Donald Trump was impeached for the first time in December 2019 on charges related to his interactions with Ukraine, and acquitted by the Senate in February 2020. He was impeached a second time in January 2021, just one week before leaving office, on charges related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and acquitted by the Senate in February 2021.

The House impeachment power is sometimes called the most powerful tool Congress has against an out-of-control executive, even though removal requires Senate conviction. Even an unsuccessful impeachment can have political and historical consequences, leaving a permanent mark on the official's record. The threat of impeachment can also constrain official behavior in some situations.