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The Senate acts as a trial court and jury after impeachment (indictment) by the House.

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Impeachment is a two-step process; the impeachment phase is similar to a Grand Jury hearing, where charges (called "articles of impeachment") are presented and the House of Representatives determines whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant a trial. If the House vote passes by a simple majority, the defendant is "impeached," and proceeds to trial in the Senate.

The Senate trial, while analogous to a criminal trial, only convenes for the purpose of determining whether a Justice, the President (or another officeholder) should be removed from office on the basis of the evidence presented at impeachment.

At the trial a committee from the House of Representatives, called "Managers," act as the prosecutors. Per constitutional mandate (Article I, Section 3), the Chief Justice of the United States (Supreme Court) must preside over the Senate trial of the President. If any other official is on trial, an "Impeachment Trial Committee" of Senators act as the presiding judges to hear testimony and evidence against the accused, which is then presented as a report to the remained of the Senate.

The full Senate no longer participates in the hearing phase of the removal trial. This procedure came into practice in 1986 when the Senate amended its rules and procedures for impeachment and has been contested by several federal court judges, but the Supreme Court has declined to interfere in the process, calling the issue a political, not legal, matter.

At the conclusion of the trial, the full Senate votes and must return a two-thirds Super Majority for conviction. Convicted officials are removed from office immediately and barred from holding future office. The Senate trial, while analogous to a criminal trial, only convenes for the purpose of determining whether a Justice, the President (or another officeholder) should be removed from office on the basis of the evidence presented at impeachment.

For more information, see Related Questions, below.

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14y ago
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10y ago

If the House votes to impeach, it is the Senate's role to hold the impeachment trial which is held in the Senate Chamber. Two presidents have been impeached. They were Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.

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7y ago

When articles of impeachment are voted by the House, the Senate sits to decide whether on not to convict.

Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6:

"The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present."

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13y ago

The Senate serves as the jury in an impeachment trial. In order to convict, 2/3 of the senators must vote to convict.

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Q: What does the senate set or provide for an impeachment trial?
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Continue Learning about American Government

What does it mean to impeach on official?

Impeachment of a federal officer means to stand trial in the U.S. Senate. A majority vote of 2/3 will result to a conviction, and if found guilty, the officer is removed from his position and possibly face criminal charges.


What is the significance of Samuel chase?

He was a justice of the US Supreme Court who Jefferson urged Congress to impeach. He went on trial in 1805 but was acquitted, and this ruling set a precedence that impeachment was not to become a way for politicians to get rid of their political partisan rivals in America.


What role does the us senate play in appointment of supreme court justices?

The majority of senators present and vote for confirmation.


What are the three differences between the house and senate?

There are lots of differences: Senators serve six year terms; Representatives serve two year terms. There are also far less Senators, only two per state; while a state's number of Representatives is based on how many people live in that state. Additionally, Senators must be at least 30 years old, while Representatives only have to be 25. The Senate votes on certain things that the House does not. For example, the Senate votes to confirm Cabinet members and treaties with foreign countries, and also acts as the jury during an impeachment trial. The House does none of those things. However, the House has things it does that the Senate does not, such as impeachment. The House has a "Speaker", who is chosen from among its members to run things. The Speaker has a great deal of power to decide the agenda; the House also has strict rules about how debates are handled. The Senate does not have strict rules about debates (there is where the so-called "filibuster" comes into play), and does not have an equivalent to the Speaker; the agenda is generally set by the leaders of the two parties, especially the majority party's leader.


How long is the term for president pro tem senate?

The pro temp is elected by the Senate at the beginning of each Congress. By traditional he serves until his party loses the majority or he leaves the senate. There is no set term for this position.

Related questions

What did Johnson's narrow acquittal from his impeachment trial set precedent?

One precedent it set was a change in the order of succession for the Presidency. In Johnson's day, the next in line after the VP was the pro tempore of the Senate, who also had a vote in the impeachment trial which was clear conflict of interest. Although it took a few years, the House Speaker was moved ahead of the pro tempore .


What are the limits set on the punishment for being found guilty of impeachment charges?

The maximum punishment in an impeachment trial is removal from office. Impeachment is a political process; a finding of guilt carries no legal penalties.


What is the impeachment procedures?

1. Reprimand 2. Scolding 3. Censure 4.Expulsion


What does it mean to impeach on official?

Impeachment of a federal officer means to stand trial in the U.S. Senate. A majority vote of 2/3 will result to a conviction, and if found guilty, the officer is removed from his position and possibly face criminal charges.


Does the US Supreme Court have jurisdiction over cases of impeachment?

No. Impeachment isn't a legal proceeding, but a political process used to remove an official from public office. The Constitution gave exclusive authority over impeachment to Congress, the Legislative branch of government. The US Supreme Court has no authority or jurisdiction over such matters.This question was explored in Nixon v. United States, 506 US 224 (1993) [No relation to former US President Richard Nixon, see United States v. Nixon, (1974)]. An impeached Mississippi US District Court judge, Walter Nixon, appealed the Senate's impeachment ruling to the US Supreme Court. The Court held that impeachment proceedings are non-justiciable, and are political matters, or the province of Congress. The 1993 Nixon case set a formal precedent preventing officials from appealing their impeachment in court.For more information, see Related Questions, below.


Which branch of congress is authorized to try and judge the president?

CongressArticle II, Section 4 of the Constitution says, "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 House Judiciary Committee decides whether or not to proceed with impeachment. If they do...The Chairman of the Judiciary Committee will propose a Resolution calling for the Judiciary Committee to begin a formal inquiry into the issue of impeachment.The Full House (probably operating under special floor rules set by the House Rules Committee) will debate and vote on each Article of Impeachment.Should any one of the Articles of Impeachment be approved by a simple majority vote, the President will be "impeached." However, being impeached is sort of like being indicted of a crime. There still has to be a trial, which is where the US Senate comes in.The Articles of Impeachment are received from the House.The Senate formulates rules and procedures for holding a trial.A trial will be held. The President will be represented by his lawyers. A select group of House members will serve as "prosecutors." The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (currently John G. Roberts) will preside with all 100 Senators acting as the jury.The Senate will meet in private session to debate a verdict.The Senate, in open session, will vote on a verdict. A 2/3 vote of the Senate will result in a conviction.The Senate will vote to remove the President from office.The Senate may also vote (by a simple majority) to prohibit the President from holding any public office in the future.


What is the significance of Samuel chase?

He was a justice of the US Supreme Court who Jefferson urged Congress to impeach. He went on trial in 1805 but was acquitted, and this ruling set a precedence that impeachment was not to become a way for politicians to get rid of their political partisan rivals in America.


What does the house do to begin a impeachment procces?

It is important to understand that impeachment is certainly not synonymous with removal fromoffice, although laypersons have erroneously asserted it to be.In the case of a Presidential impeachment, the United States House of Representatives is called into special session. The House of Representatives debates and enacts Articles of Impeachment. Upon certification by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, these are transmitted to the Senate.The United States Senate is also convened in special session. In this capacity, it is presided over specially by the Chief Justice of the United States, and not the President of the Senate nor the President pro tempore of the Senate.The Senate then tries the President on the Articles brought to it by the House of Representatives. If the Senate convicts on all Articles, at that moment, the individual formerly holding the office is no longer President, and due to this incapacity, succession proceeds according to the provisions set forth in the U.S. Constitution and the Presidential Succession Act.If deemed of constitutional capacity to discharge the duties of the office, the former Vice President of the United States is then sworn in by the Chief Justice of the United States to be acting President, during the remainder of what would otherwise have been the ousted individual's Presidential term.


What makes a senate important?

The city or state has a set of rules to fallow and the senate created them, if you don't have a set of rules then the whole place turns to chaos.


When is the trial of Irving H Kamsler set for?

No trial. It is over. Plead guility to every count.


Why did Romulus set a senate up instead of a monarchy?

Romulus did set up a monarchy. He was the first king of Rome. He set up the senate as his royal advisory body. It was a council of elders. Senatus (senate) was derived from senex, old man. He appointed 100 patres falmilias (heads of the household) from the leading clans of Rome to seat in the senate.


Does the senate set its own rules of operation?

yes