What are the impeachment requirements?

What are the impeachment requirements?

• A. Simple majority in both houses
• B. Unanimous consent of both houses
• C. Majority of House and 2/3 of Senate
• D. 2/3 of House and majority of Senate

Answer: (C)

Impeachment in the United States operates as a two-step process. First, the House brings charges by a simple majority vote, initiating impeachment. If that impeachment moves forward, a trial is held in the Senate, and removal from office requires a two-thirds vote of the Senators present. This combination—majority in the House to impeach and two-thirds in the Senate to convict and remove—explains why the correct interpretation is that the impeaching body uses a simple majority and the trial body requires a supermajority. Remember, impeachment is charging someone with misconduct; removal is the consequence of a Senate conviction.

Impeachment in the United States operates as a two-step process. First, the House brings charges by a simple majority vote, initiating impeachment. If that impeachment moves forward, a trial is held in the Senate, and removal from office requires a two-thirds vote of the Senators present. This combination—majority in the House to impeach and two-thirds in the Senate to convict and remove—explains why the correct interpretation is that the impeaching body uses a simple majority and the trial body requires a supermajority. Remember, impeachment is charging someone with misconduct; removal is the consequence of a Senate conviction.