Impeachment facts for kids

Impeachment is a special way to remove important government officials from their jobs. This happens when an official does not want to leave their position. It is like a formal accusation that a group of lawmakers makes.

The impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in 1999. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist was in charge.

What is Impeachment?

Impeachment is a process where a country's lawmakers decide if a high-ranking official should be removed from office. It is not about sending someone to jail. Instead, it is about whether they can keep their public job. This process is usually for serious actions that go against the public's trust.

How Impeachment Works

The impeachment process often has two main steps. First, a group of lawmakers, like the House of Representatives in the United States, votes to impeach. This means they formally accuse the official of wrongdoing. It is like a grand jury deciding there is enough evidence for a trial.

If the official is impeached, the process moves to a trial. This trial is usually held by another group of lawmakers, like the Senate in the United States. During the trial, both sides present their arguments. After hearing everything, the lawmakers vote again. If enough of them vote "guilty," the official is removed from office. This second vote is called a "conviction."

Why Impeachment Happens

Impeachment is used for very serious reasons. These reasons often involve an official misusing their power or breaking the law while in office. It is a way to make sure that people in powerful positions act responsibly. It helps keep the government fair and honest.

Examples of Impeachment

Many countries around the world have used impeachment. Leaders from different nations have faced this process. Sometimes, officials are impeached but not removed from office. Other times, they are both impeached and convicted, leading to their removal.

Images for kids

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  Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff (left) and South Korean president Park Geun-Hye (right) were both impeached and removed from office in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

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  Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas was the first European head of state to have been impeached.

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  Peru's president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski speaks about the impeachment process against him

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  Boris Yeltsin, as president of Russia, survived several impeachment attempts

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  United States president Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in 2019, and then again in 2021, with one week left in office.

See also

In Spanish: Proceso de destitución para niños