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