How likely is it that President Biden will be impeached?

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, your big brain, the information provided and any links below:

1. On September 13, 2023 House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. What portion of the U.S. House does it take to impeach the president?

2. Although the House has not initiated a formal impeachment process yet and has not made a statement of charges, this inquiry is the first step towards the removal of the President. If a statement of charges is made 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. Why did the Framers make impeachment so hard?

6. 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?

7. 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.

8. Given the fact that the Senate is Democratic controlled, do you think it is likely that the Senate will impeach the President?

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

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

Learning Extension

Read this NPR story about the Biden Impeachment Inquiry.

Action Extension

Contact your U.S. House Representatives and share your opinion about Biden’s impeachment inquiry and then ask them their intention regarding impeaching the president? Share your exchange in class or online.

Visual Extension*