1. Impeachment & Succession
The Presidency
Impeachment & Succession

2. Lesson Objectives
Identify the Constitutional amendments that address presidential succession
Explain the process of impeachment
Distinguish the roles of the two houses of the US Congress in the impeachment process

3. Question #1
Which of the following Presidents was never elected to an executive office?
Andrew Johnson
Gerald Ford
John Tyler
William H. Taft

4. The Constitution and Executive Power
Where is the first reference to executive power?
Article 1 section 2
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such vacancies
Where is the first reference to the President of the United States?
Article 1 section 3
Impeachment trials: “When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside…”
What do these references tell us about the President and Congress?

5. Impeachment House Vote Senate Vote
Formal accusation by the legislative branch
Not removal from office
Not limited to presidents
Any federal officer may be impeached
House of Representatives has sole power of impeachment
Implies a simple majority of House to impeach
Senate tries all impeachments
No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present
Two presidents have been impeached
Andrew Johnson
William J. Clinton
A third was almost impeached
Richard M. Nixon
No president has been convicted
House Vote
50%+1 Yes to impeach
Senate Vote
2/3 Yes to convict

6. Question #2 What is impeachment?
Removal of the President of the United States by Congress after a trial in the Senate
A political trial of executive officers by the Congress
Removal of an executive or judicial officer by the legislative branch after a trial
A formal accusation by the legislative branch against an executive or judicial officer

7. Question #3
What are the grounds for impeachment as stated in the Constitution?
treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors
treason and bribery
treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors
malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance

8. Question #4 Which of the following Presidents have been impeached?
Nixon and Clinton
Johnson and Clinton
Johnson and Nixon
None. No President has yet been impeached

9. Succession
A plurality of amendments address filling the office of President
Amendment XII
Modifies the Electoral College ballot
Separate EC Ballots for PotUS and VPotUS
Amendment XX
“Lame Duck” amendment
End of term changed from March to January
Presidential succession in case of death or failure to qualify
Amendment XXII
“Truman” amendment
Two-term limit
Two-years acting president= 1 term
Amendment XXIII
Presidential electors for District of Columbia
Amendment XXIV
Acknowledgement of primary elections
Prohibition of poll taxes
Amendment XXV
Presidential succession in case of removal or resignation
Vice Presidential succession in case of vacancy
“Acting president” in case of temporary presidential disability

10. Question #5
What is the maximum possible tenure of a President of the United States?
four years
ten years
nine years, 364 days
eight years

11. Question #6
What change in presidential election and succession was made by the ratification of Amendment 12?
Electors each cast two ballots for president
The Constitution formally recognizes the primary election system
Electors cast two ballots: one for president, one for vice-president
The Presidential term ends in January instead of March

12. Question #7
A state law requiring citizens to pay a fee in order either to register to vote or cast a ballot is
a ballot fee, which is prohibited under the 24th Amendment
a poll tax, which is prohibited under the 24th Amendment
a ballot fee, which is protected under the 24th Amendment
a poll tax, which is protected under the 24th Amendment

13. Question #8 Amendments 12, 20, 22, and 25 primarily address
Limits on presidential power
Mode of election of the President
Removal of the President
Presidential succession

14. Question #9 Which role would you rather have?
Rank and file House member co-sponsoring impeachment articles
Speaker of the House, presenting articles of impeachment to the Senate
Senator from the President’s party in an impeachment trial
Vice-president of the United States during an impeachment trial of the President
The President during an impeachment trial