How Impeachment and Removal Work in the United States
Impeachment is a constitutional process, not a criminal charge. The U.S. Constitution grants the House of Representatives the sole power to impeach, which is a formal accusation of misconduct, and the Senate the sole power to try impeachments and remove an official from office. Removal requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate. This distinction means impeachment does not equal removal. While three presidents have been impeached by the House, only one federal official—Secretary of War William W. Belknap in 1876—was impeached and subsequently removed by the Senate. No president has ever been removed from office through impeachment. This article explains the process and documents each presidential impeachment in detail.
The Constitutional Framework of Impeachment and Removal
Article I, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution lays out the mechanics of impeachment and removal. The House brings charges by majority vote; the Senate conducts a trial presided over by the Chief Justice when the president is tried. Conviction and removal require a two-thirds supermajority. Impeachable offenses are not limited to crimes but include "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Because the Senate must vote to remove, a president who is impeached can remain in office if the Senate does not reach the necessary threshold. This design makes removal intentionally difficult and ensures the process is deliberative rather than purely political.
Key Constitutional Points
- Impeachment is an indictment, not a penalty.
- The Senate conducts the trial and votes on removal.
- Removal requires a two-thirds supermajority (67 votes in a full Senate).
- Disqualification from future office requires a separate, simple-majority vote after removal or conviction.
Presidential Impeachments by the House
Only three presidents have been impeached by the House of Representatives: Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Donald Trump twice (2019 and 2021). None were removed from office by the Senate. The impeachments reflected deep conflicts over presidential power, policy, and alleged misconduct, but the Senate did not secure the required two-thirds votes to convict and remove. In all cases, either the Senate voted to acquit or the trial ended prematurely because the official had left office.
Quick Comparison of Presidential Impeachments
| President | Year(s) Impeached | Charges | Senate Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Johnson | 1868 | Violating the Tenure of Office Act; other high crimes | Acquitted; one vote short of removal |
| Bill Clinton | 1998 | Perjury; obstruction of justice | Acquitted on both articles |
| Donald Trump | 2019 (first impeachment) | Abuse of power; obstruction of Congress | Acquitted; trial ended before the vote after the president left office in January 2021 |
| Donald Trump | 2021 (second impeachment) | Incitement of insurrection | Acquitted; trial ended after the president left office |
Historical Context of the Only Presidential Removal: William W. Belknap
William W. Belknap, Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant, was impeached by the House in 1876 and resigned minutes before the Senate trial began. Nevertheless, the Senate proceeded with the trial and ultimately voted to remove him from office, making him the only U.S. official to be both impeached and removed. The case established important precedents regarding whether an official could be tried after resignation. The Senate ruled that it could try former officials for conduct that occurred while they held office, setting a lasting standard for impeachment jurisprudence.
Impeachment vs. Other Removal Mechanisms
Impeachment is one of several ways a president can leave office. The Twenty-Fifth Amendment provides for temporary transfer of power due to incapacity, and Section 4 allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unable to discharge duties. However, these mechanisms do not involve the House or Senate impeachment processes. Presidential elections, term limits, and voluntary resignation are additional paths to leaving office. Impeachment remains the most constitutionally serious process because it is the only method that results in a formal legislative judgment on misconduct and can trigger disqualification from future federal office.
Outcomes and Consequences of Impeachment
Impeachment alone does not remove a president from office; removal requires a Senate conviction. Even without removal, impeachment has significant political and practical consequences: it stigmatizes a presidency, can sharply reduce political capital, and may affect fundraising, public trust, and legislative effectiveness. If the Senate convicts and removes, a former president may be disqualified from holding future federal office, though that penalty requires a separate simple-majority vote. No disqualified president has been successfully prevented from holding future office since the Reconstruction era, and the remedy remains controversial.
Key Takeaways on Presidential Impeachment and Removal
- Impeachment is initiated by the House; removal requires a Senate conviction.
- Removal has never occurred through presidential impeachment.
- Three presidents were impeached, but all were acquitted or left office before trial conclusion.
- Only one U.S. official, William W. Belknap, was both impeached and removed.
- Impeachable offenses include abuses of power, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors.
FAQ
Reader questions
How many U.S. presidents have been removed from office?
Zero. No president has been removed from office through impeachment. One federal official, Secretary of War William W. Belknap, was impeached and removed by the Senate after he had already resigned.
What does it mean for an official to be impeached?
Impeachment is a formal accusation brought by the House of Representatives. It functions like an indictment and does not itself remove an official from office.
Can a president be removed after leaving office?
The Senate has held that it can try and remove, or disqualify, former officials for conduct that occurred while they were in office. This precedent was set following Belknap’s resignation.
What is the difference between impeachment and removal?
Impeachment is the House’s accusation; removal is the Senate’s conviction and ouster from office. A president can be impeached without being removed if the Senate fails to convict.
Which impeachments resulted in the most contentious trials?
Andrew Johnson’s 1868 trial and Donald Trump’s 2019 and 2021 impeachments were notably contentious, reflecting deep divisions over presidential authority and political accountability. The distinction between impeachment as an accusation and removal as a final, rare penalty is central to understanding why no president has been removed through this constitutional process. Any assessment of "what presidents were impeached and removed from office" must clarify that impeachment alone never caused a presidency to end; removal by the Senate has never occurred.