Sitting members of Congress can’t be impeached, because there is another Constitutional process for removal, see Art. 1, Sec. 5, Cl. 1 & 2.
Neither house has to consult the other to remove a member, but the vote to remove is 2/3rds.
Unlike the President they can be charged with any crime while in office, though, which historically in most cases has led to their resignation rather than face a removal vote.
Five is more than his state’s statistical fair share, just based on 51 divided into 169.
The same ruling that said sitting Congress members cannot be impeached did so by reasoning that they, as independently elected, are not “civil officers” as described in Art. 2, Sec. 4, and as I said, that there was already a specific Constitutional process for removal. That ruling established the difference between Congresscritters and all Executive appointees, who are all civil officers, thus subject to impeachment and removal by Congress. That includes appointed judges and SCOTUS justices. Basically anyone who required Senate confirmation is definitely a civil officer, so that naturally includes cabinet heads and their deputies. Pres. and VP are not civil officers by that definition but since Art. 2, Sec. 4 names them specifically along with civil officers, they are subject to impeachment and removal by Congress.
I got sidetracked but I came here to comment that when Chao was picked to head Transpo by FatNixon, I thought “well she did Transpo under W and didn’t get in big trouble, so I guess she’s a reasonably competent admin who should be able to manage the same job again without fucking everything up.” Now I realise that these corporatists only stay in line because of the actual threat of the law, not due to any respect for it. Under FN, she ain’t feeling the threat, so feels free to engage in the grift she would have like to do all along.
If you can cite a reason for your statement, I will concede your point. I find many that say the opposite. Google “Can a Cabinet Member Be Impeached”.
Yes, only the best. It may contain some Asian carp, but that just adds some foreign flavor.
I’m not a constitutional lawyer and I’m certainly not Laurence Tribe, the best of them all. I turn to Wikipedia for info at times like these. I read that it can’t be done.
Cabinet members can be impeached.
Congress impeached William W. Belknap, Grant’s Secretary of War.
Many people have been calling for Barr’s impeachment.
Chao isn’t going to be impeached for putting a bit of a thumb on a scale when it comes to appropriations. Nobody on Capitol Hill wants that to be a precedent.
It is because they are “civil officers” - as members of Congress are not - that cabinet members can be impeached.
Thanks for the lesson. I’m glad to know this.
She needs to be locked up… just too corrupt
You’re welcome.