Impeachment

Impeachment is a constitutional process in which a legislative body levels charges against a high-ranking public official, such as a president, for alleged misconduct. The process typically begins with formal accusations, followed by a trial to determine the official's guilt. If found guilty, the official may be removed from office. The term originates from the Old French empescher, meaning "to hinder" or "to obstruct." In Hebrew, impeachment is translated as הדחת נשיא מהתפקיד (הדחה), literally meaning "removal of the president from office." In Spanish, it is known as impeachment or juicio político, while in French, it is referred to as destitution. Key contextual information includes the fact that impeachment is distinct from a simple removal from office; it involves a formal process with specific legal and constitutional procedures. The most famous examples of impeachment processes include those of U.S. Presidents Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump, though none were ultimately removed from office. In the United Kingdom, the process is known as removal from office or parliamentary impeachment.