Impeaching to the Choir

Critical Analysis

1. What portion of the U.S. Senate does it take to impeach the president?

2. According to Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, what are the 3 permissible grounds for impeachment?

3. List the branches of government involved in the impeachment process:

4. List any other political process that involves all three branches:

5. What story does the infographic above tell about the difficulty of impeachment?

6. Why did the Framers make impeachment so hard?

7. What is one consequence of the difficulty of impeachment?

8. A “Goldilocks” impeachment process would not be too easy and not too hard - it would be just right. Explain whether you think that the impeachment process is too difficult, too easy, or just right?

9. In Federalist No. 51, Madison wrote that the people are the best check on the government, “A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government;” But that since the people could be wrong, “experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.” The government must be set up to stop tyranny. He wrote that, “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” Make a claim about whether impeachment is a strong enough counteraction on the ambition of the presidency.

10. Given the fact that the Senate is split 50-50 along party lines, do you think it is likely that the Senate will impeach the President?

11. Besides impeachment, is there any other way to remove a President from office?

12. Only three U.S. presidents have ever been impeached. Why do you think the Framers made it so difficult to impeach a president?

13. Explain any connection between the infographic above and federalism:

14. Wait, why was Trump impeached this time?

Learning Extension

Read this Wall Street Journal editorial (claim) from Conservative constitutional scholar Charles J. Cooper about whether an ex-president can be impeached. Then read Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution and decide for yourself: “The president, vice president and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Action Extension

Contact your Senators and share your opinion about Trump’s impeachment and then ask them their intention regarding impeaching the president? Share your exchange in class or online.

Visual Extension*