Why Everyone's Talking About Impeachment

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about how President Donald Trump is being investigated and could be removed from office. This fall, the U.S. House of Representatives launched a special examination of the president’s actions, known as an impeachment inquiry. The goal is to determine whether Trump abused his power for personal gain, putting his interests before the country’s. This is a big deal. He is only the fourth president in U.S. history to be investigated this way (see slideshow, below). 

The inquiry is looking into accusations that Trump pressured another country to help with his reelection in 2020. That country, Ukraine, relies on the U.S. to help pay for its military defense. White House records show Trump asked Ukraine’s president to investigate former U.S. vice president Joe Biden. Biden is running for U.S. president as a Democrat.

It is unconstitutional to ask another country to intervene in a U.S. election, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in her speech announcing the inquiry. “The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law,” she said. 

Trump says he didn’t do anything wrong. He says he’s being targeted by House Democrats who disagree with his Republican policies. 

So what happens next? If you’re like most people in America (including adults!), you likely find the whole situation pretty confusing. We’re here to help you understand it. Read on.

President Donald Trump is being investigated and could be removed from office. You have probably been hearing a lot about that. This fall, the U.S. House of Representatives launched a special examination of the president’s actions. This is known as an impeachment inquiry. The goal is to determine whether Trump abused his power for personal gain, putting his interests before the country’s. This is a big deal. He is only the fourth president in U.S. history to be investigated this way (see slideshow, below).

The inquiry is looking into accusations that Trump pressured another country to help with his reelection in 2020. That country is Ukraine. It relies on the U.S. to help pay for its military defense. White House records show Trump asked Ukraine’s president to investigate Joe Biden, a former U.S. vice president. Biden is running for U.S. president as a Democrat.

Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House. She gave a speech announcing the inquiry. In that speech, she said it is unconstitutional for a president to ask another country to get involved in a U.S. election. “The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law,” Pelosi said.

Trump says he did not do anything wrong. He says he is being targeted by House Democrats who disagree with his Republican policies.

What happens next? You might find the whole situation pretty confusing. So do most people in America. That includes adults! We are here to help you understand it. Read on.

Impeachment is when the House charges a president or other government official with wrongdoing. It can result in a president being removed from office. The Framers of the Constitution gave Congress this ability to ensure there are limits on the president’s power (see sidebar, below).

When this issue went to press, President Trump had not been impeached. But the House had announced an impeachment inquiry. That is when lawmakers collect evidence to decide whether an official should be charged.

The Constitution lists several reasons for impeachment, including bribery and treason (betraying one’s country). But a president doesn’t have to break a law to be impeached. “Serious abuses of power or breaches of the public trust” count too, says constitutional law expert Michael J. Gerhardt.

Impeachment is when the House charges a president or other government official with wrongdoing. It can result in a president being removed from office. The Framers of the Constitution gave Congress this ability. They did so to ensure there are limits on the president’s power (see sidebar, below).

When this issue went to press, President Trump had not been impeached. But the House had announced an impeachment inquiry. That is when lawmakers collect evidence to decide whether an official should be charged.

The Constitution lists several reasons for impeachment. These include bribery and treason (betraying one’s country). But a president does not have to break a law to be impeached. “Serious abuses of power or breaches of the public trust” count too, says Michael J. Gerhardt. He is a constitutional law expert.

It starts in the House—the only chamber of Congress that can formally charge a president with an offense. If representatives suspect any wrongdoing, they can conduct an impeachment inquiry. If they find enough evidence, they can then write up a formal list of charges. Such charges are known as articles of impeachment. Each article lists a specific accusation against the president. Then all 435 members of the House vote on each accusation. If more than 50 percent of the representatives support any article, the president is impeached.

It starts in the House. That is the only chamber of Congress that can formally charge a president with an offense. If representatives suspect any wrongdoing, they can conduct an impeachment inquiry. If they find enough evidence, they can then write up a formal list of charges. Such charges are known as articles of impeachment. Each article lists a specific accusation against the president. Then all 435 members of the House vote on each accusation. If more than 50 percent of the representatives support any article, the president is impeached.

No. A president who has been impeached has been charged with wrongdoing, not found guilty of it. He or she must face trial in the U.S. Senate. The chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court oversees the trial. Lawmakers from the House present the case against the president. The president’s personal lawyers defend him or her. The senators act as the jury. If at least two-thirds of the Senate (67 senators) find the president guilty, he or she is removed from office. If not, the president stays in the White House.

No. A president who has been impeached has been charged with wrongdoing. That does not mean being found guilty. He or she must face trial in the U.S. Senate. The chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court oversees the trial. Lawmakers from the House present the case against the president. The president’s personal lawyers defend him or her. The senators act as the jury. If at least two-thirds of the Senate (67 senators) find the president guilty, he or she is removed from office. If not, the president stays in the White House.

Impeachment is likely if the House votes on it, political experts say. Only 51 percent of U.S. representatives need to agree to impeach, and Democrats make up the majority of the House. When this issue went to press, more than half of the representatives supported the inquiry or impeachment itself.

However, Trump doesn’t need to pack his bags just yet, experts say. Why? The Constitution states that at least two-thirds of U.S. senators must find the president guilty to convict him. There are 100 senators—53 are Republicans, 45 are Democrats, and two are Independents. So at least 20 Republican senators would need to find Trump guilty to remove him. That’s unlikely, experts say, because lawmakers tend to support presidents from their own party.

Political experts say that impeachment is likely if the House votes on it. Only 51 percent of U.S. representatives need to agree to impeach. And Democrats make up the majority of the House. When this issue went to press, more than half of the representatives supported the inquiry or impeachment itself.

However, Trump does not need to pack his bags just yet, experts say. Why? The Constitution states that at least two-thirds of U.S. senators must find the president guilty to convict him. Of the 100 senators, 53 are Republicans. Only 45 are Democrats. Two are Independents. So at least 20 Republican senators would need to find Trump guilty to remove him. Experts say that is unlikely. That is because lawmakers tend to support presidents from their own party.

For now, we’ll likely continue to see a lot of news coverage about the impeachment process. In late September, one survey found that most Americans were closely following the events. Another poll found that more than half of Americans supported the impeachment inquiry.

Longer term, the situation could have a big impact on next year’s election, experts say. Trump is using the accusations against him to energize his supporters. The events could help him get reelected—especially if he is impeached but not found guilty by the Senate.

Still, many Democratic lawmakers say that regardless of the political risks, they have an obligation to make sure that the president is acting in the country’s best interest.

For now, we will likely continue to see a lot of news coverage about the impeachment process. In late September, one survey found that most Americans were closely following the events. Another poll found that more than half of Americans supported the impeachment inquiry.

Longer term, the situation could have a big impact on next year’s election, experts say. Trump is using the accusations against him to energize his supporters. The events could help him get reelected—especially if he is impeached but not found guilty by the Senate.

Still, many Democratic lawmakers say that they have to take the political risks. They say they have an obligation to make sure that the president is acting in the country’s best interest.