The Federal Impeachment Process

Michael Gerhard examines the likely political and constitutional consequences of President Clinton's impeachment and trial. Placing the President's acquittal in historical perspective he argues that it is consistent with the process as it has evolved over the last two centuries.

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Throughout President Clinton's impeachment proceedings, the contending sides agreed on very little. One exception was "The Federal Impeachment Process" - the most complete analysis of the constitutional and legal issues raised in every impeachment proceeding in American history. In this edition, Michael Gerhardt draws on his experience as a commentator and expert witness to examine the likely political and constitutional consequences of President Clinton's impeachment and trial. Placing the President's acquital in historical perspective, he argues that it fits easily within the impeachment process as it has evolved over the past two centuries. Impeachment, he shows, is an inherently political process designed to expose and remedy political crimes. Subject neither to judicial review nor to presidential veto, it is a unique congressional power that involves both political and constitutional considerations, including the gravity of the offence charged, the harm to the constitutional order and the link between an official's misconduct and duties. Significantly expanded and updated, this book should be a standard work on the federal impeachment process for years to come.