Students in my Introduction to American Law class know that the President of the United States may be removed from office if he is impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted by the Senate. In the House, impeachment requires a majority vote. In the Senate, conviction and removal must pass with 2/3 of the vote. Ever wonder how the chief executive officer of a state (a Governor) can be removed from office? Well, we may just be getting a lesson on this soon. Yesterday morning the Governor of Illinois (pictured) was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges; the main charge being that he was trying to fill President-elect Obama's Senate seat by choosing the person who gave him the most money. As an aside, the Illinois Constitution gives the Governor the power to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat. In short, he was trying to sell the position formerly held by Obama. The Governor has not resigned, and from what I know of him, he probably will fight these charges to the bitter end. But the Illinois legislature does not have to wait to the end. They can remove him. According to the Illinois Constitution, the Governor can be removed via a process that is identical to the process used to remove the President. Just in case you were wondering.
10 December 2008
Impreachment
Students in my Introduction to American Law class know that the President of the United States may be removed from office if he is impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted by the Senate. In the House, impeachment requires a majority vote. In the Senate, conviction and removal must pass with 2/3 of the vote. Ever wonder how the chief executive officer of a state (a Governor) can be removed from office? Well, we may just be getting a lesson on this soon. Yesterday morning the Governor of Illinois (pictured) was arrested by the FBI on corruption charges; the main charge being that he was trying to fill President-elect Obama's Senate seat by choosing the person who gave him the most money. As an aside, the Illinois Constitution gives the Governor the power to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat. In short, he was trying to sell the position formerly held by Obama. The Governor has not resigned, and from what I know of him, he probably will fight these charges to the bitter end. But the Illinois legislature does not have to wait to the end. They can remove him. According to the Illinois Constitution, the Governor can be removed via a process that is identical to the process used to remove the President. Just in case you were wondering.
