Argus Explains: Trump’s Impeachment

Members of the House of Representatives vote on impeachment. Photo credit: Wikipedia

By JACLYN KHROL and ADELISA GUTIC

For the third ever time in history, an American president might be removed from office by the Senate.

Why? In this case, the Democrats (America’s liberal political party) are claiming that President Donald Trump (a Republican) abused his presidential power. Trump is accused of bribing the Ukrainian President to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Joe Biden is Trump's main competition for the next election. In return, Trump would help the Ukrainian military by providing $400 million dollars. 

This is illegal because Trump is using his political power to gain control over his opponents. The political “left” is also claiming that Trump obstructed Congress. When Congress was investigating the Trump-Ukraine situation, Trump refused to provide files, phone calls, etc., and told his staff not to testify. 

Impeachment has three steps. First, the House of Representatives (one half of Congress) investigates a situation in which the president might have caused harm to the country. Second, the House votes to bring the impeachment to the Senate. Lastly, the Senate has a trial and votes on whether the president may remain in office until the end of his four year term or be removed. 

Why should students care? The laws about impeachment affect the country's future. We, the students, are the future. The laws that this country is built upon should be followed. In the near future, all of us will have a vote in America's presidential election. Without knowing basic politics, we students might steer this country in the wrong direction. Aspects of politics appear in our everyday lives. How will we make smart decisions when we vote if we do not follow-up with what is happening in our country?

What happens if Trump is convicted? Vice President Mike Pence (also a Republican) is next in line to become president if Trump is removed from office. If convicted by the Senate, Trump could still run for president in 2020.

Has this happened before? The first president to be impeached was Andrew Johnson in 1868 for being “too soft” on the south after the Civil War. In 1998, the second president to get impeached was Bill Clinton for obstruction of justice and perjury. In short, Clinton had an affair with an intern in his office then lied about it while under oath. However, no president has yet been convicted by the Senate and removed from office.