I believe you are referring to two separate terms, high crimes, and misdemeanors. Misdemeanors are lower level crimes punishable by confinement in a county jail for a period of no longer than one year. High crimes are felonies (higher level crimes) punishable by confinement in a state or federal prison for a period of one year to life, or the death penalty.
According to the US Constitution (Article II, section 4), a president can be impeached for bribery, treason, or other "high crimes and misdemeanors." President Andrew Johnson (1868), President Richard Nixon (1974) and President Bill Clinton (1998-99) are the only three presidents ever considered for impeachment.
Article 2, Section 4 states that the President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office upon impeachment and conviction of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The term "misdemeanors" has been construed so that it does not refer to misdemeanors in the general criminal law sense, i.e., minor infractions. The term is read in conjunction with the other 3 items, treason, bribery, high crimes i.e. very serious offenses.
1) Exceeding the constitutional bounds of the office. 2) Behaviour grossly incompatible with the proper function and purpose of the office. 3) Employing the power of the office for an improper purpose or for personal gain. Source: usgovinfo.com
Under Article II of Section 4 in the U.S. Constitution "...shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." The exact definition of what constitutes an impeachable offense is up to Congress to decide. The House decides what the charges are. The Senate holds the trial and serves as jury with the Chief Justice presiding in the trial.
Presidents and civil officers can be impeached for accepting bribes or committing treason and other high crimes and misdemeanors. Only Congress has the power to impeach the president.
The phrase in article II section 4 is " Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Exactly what other high crimes and misdemeanors are is decided by the House of Representatives if and when they vote for impeachment.
High crimes and misdemeanors.
Frontline - 1983 High Crimes and Misdemeanors 8-27 was released on: USA: 27 November 1990
Yes.
I believe you are actually referring to the phrase, "High crimes and misdemeanors."
Meaning that they charged him with " High crimes and misdemeanors" in office.
The charge of high crimes and misdemeanors covers allegations of misconduct that do not fall under a more clearly defined impeachable offence; e.g., high treason. This charge occurs only in cases of parliamentary impeachment and is unrelated to any offence in criminal law. High crimes and misdemeanors is a phrase from the United States Constitution, Article II, Section 4: "The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
The phrase in article II section 4 is " Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Exactly what other high crimes and misdemeanors are is decided by the House of Representatives if and when they vote for impeachment.
The president may be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. These generally are considered to have to rise to the level of felony, or otherwise be of a nature to disgrace the office to warrant impeachment.
By impeachment. A president can be impeached for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
2/3 majority in the Senate based on the charges of treason, bribery, and high crimes & misdemeanors
When you resign, retire, die or are impeached for committing "high crimes and misdemeanors."