The diagram below details the process undertaken during the 2019 push to impeach President Trump. For more on what’s next in the second effort to impeach the outgoing president, refer to this guide from The Fix.
The Democratic-led House impeached President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, setting off a trial in the Senate and a vote that acquitted Trump, allowing him to remain in office.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Announcing formal
impeachment inquiry
Sept. 24, 2019
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Announcing formal
impeachment inquiry
Sept. 24, 2019
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Announcing formal
impeachment inquiry
Sept. 24, 2019
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Announcing formal
impeachment inquiry
Sept. 24, 2019
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced the launch of the inquiry in September. According to the Constitution, the House can impeach a president — and other civil officers, such as federal judges — if lawmakers believe they have committed “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” What constitutes a high crime or misdemeanor is open to interpretation, but an abuse of power could fit the bill. Investigators looked into whether actions by Trump rise to that level.
Pelosi chose the House Intelligence Committee to lead the investigation. It is chaired by Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) and includes 13 Democrats and nine Republicans. The Committee, alongside the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called dozens of witnesses to testify or produce documents, not all of whom complied.
Formal inquiry by
House Intelligence Committee
Adam B. Schiff
Chairman
13 Democrats
9 Republicans
50%
Formal inquiry by
House Intelligence Committee
Adam B. Schiff
Chairman
13 Democrats
9 Republicans
50%
Formal inquiry by
House Intelligence Committee
Adam B. Schiff
Chairman
13 Democrats
9 Republicans
50%
Formal inquiry by
House Intelligence Committee
Adam B. Schiff
Chairman
13 Democrats
9 Republicans
50%
Three previous presidents have reached this inquiry stage: Andrew Johnson, Richard M. Nixon and Bill Clinton. The Nixon and Clinton impeachment processes included votes of the full House authorizing the Judiciary Committee to formally investigate.
Originally, Pelosi had said that the House Judiciary, led by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), would investigate this time as well, but she decided that Intelligence should lead when she narrowed the focus to Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.
Judiciary Committee members, however, still played a crucial role: They voted on whether there were grounds for impeachment.
[Live updates: Impeachment trial]
Deciding whether to draft articles of impeachment
The House Judiciary
Committee votes to decide if there are grounds for impeachment
Jerrold Nadler
Chairman
24 Democrats
17 Republicans
Nadler
50%
The House Judiciary
Committee drafts
articles of impeachment.
The House Judiciary
Committee decides not to pursue impeachment.
No further proceedings.
President remains in office.
The House debates each article of impeachment
on the floor.
Deciding whether to draft articles of impeachment
The House Judiciary
Committee votes to decide if there are grounds for impeachment
Jerrold Nadler
Chairman
24 Democrats
17 Republicans
Nadler
50%
The House Judiciary
Committee drafts
articles of impeachment.
The House Judiciary
Committee decides not to pursue impeachment.
No further proceedings.
President remains in office.
The House debates each article of impeachment
on the floor.
Deciding whether to draft articles of impeachment
The House Judiciary
Committee votes to decide if there are grounds for impeachment
Jerrold Nadler
Chairman
24 Democrats
17 Republicans
Nadler
50%
The House Judiciary
Committee drafts
articles of impeachment.
The House Judiciary
Committee decides not to pursue impeachment.
No further proceedings.
President remains in office.
The House debates each article of impeachment
on the floor.
Deciding whether to draft articles of impeachment
The House Judiciary
Committee votes to decide if there are grounds for impeachment
Jerrold Nadler
Chairman
24 Democrats
17 Republicans
Nadler
50%
The House Judiciary
Committee drafts
articles of impeachment.
The House Judiciary
Committee decides not to pursue impeachment.
No further proceedings.
President remains in office.
The House debates each article of impeachment
on the floor.
On Dec. 13, the Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment against President Trump, voting strictly on party lines. House Democrats had announced the articles days earlier: one for abuse of power regarding his conduct with Ukraine and the other for obstruction of Congress during the ensuing investigation. Articles of impeachment are not criminal indictments but are similar in that they are charges against a person that could be pursued in a trial.
[Which House members voted to impeach Trump]
Trump faces the same number of charges as Clinton did. Johnson faced 11, while Nixon faced three. Nixon resigned after an incriminating audiotape was released before the full House had a chance to vote.
On Dec. 18, the House voted to impeach President Trump on the two charges after a six-hour debate. The vote was largely along party lines with voting Republicans all opposing impeachment and three Democrats joining them on at least one of the articles. Two Republicans and one Democrat did not vote. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) voted “present.”
Votes on each article
of impeachment
Full House of Representatives
233 Democrats
197 Republicans
1 Independent
Yes on any
article of
impeachment
No to
all
No further
proceedings.
President
remains
in office.
Trump is
impeached.
Votes on each article of impeachment
Full House of Representatives
233 Democrats
197 Republicans
1 Independent
Yes on any
article of
impeachment
No to
all
No further
proceedings.
President
remains
in office.
Trump is
impeached.
Votes on each article of impeachment
Full House of Representatives
233 Democrats
197 Republicans
1 Independent
Yes on any
article of
impeachment
No to
all
Trump is
impeached.
No further proceedings.
President remains in office.
Votes on each article of impeachment
Full House of Representatives
233 Democrats
197 Republicans
1 Independent
Yes on any
article of
impeachment
No to
all
Trump is
impeached.
No further proceedings.
President remains in office.
Next impeachment moves to the Senate. The Constitution does not require a trial to occur, stating only that the Senate has the “sole power to try,” but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) committed to holding one.
The specifics of the trial became a source of contention. Democrats called for more investigative work and witnesses, which McConnell was against. After a month-long stalemate the House delivered the two articles of impeachment to the Senate on Jan. 15, allowing the trial to begin.
SENATE
Trial before full senate
John G. Roberts Jr.
Chief Justice of the United States presides.
Senate
Acts as the jury.
SENATE
Trial before full senate
John G. Roberts Jr.
Chief Justice of the United States presides.
Senate
Acts as the jury.
SENATE
Trial before full senate
John G. Roberts Jr.
Chief Justice of the United States presides.
Senate
Acts as the jury.
SENATE
Trial before full senate
John G. Roberts Jr.
Chief Justice of the United States presides.
Senate
Acts as the jury.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. presides over the trial where Senators serve as jurors.
First, the Senate votes on the rules of the trial, including its length and speaking time. During the trial, House “managers” — House lawmakers who are designated to argue the case for impeachment — outline the charges, and the president’s attorneys defend him. Both sides may call and cross-examine witnesses.
Johnson and Clinton were tried in the Senate. Then-Rep. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) was a manager during Clinton’s trial.
After each side makes their opening arguments, and answers questions from the Senators, the Senate will vote on whether to dismiss the case or move forward with evidence and witnesses.
Senate trial
WE ARE
HERE
67 votes
needed to
convict
53 Republicans
45 Democrats
2 Independents
who caucus with Democrats
2/3 of Senate
votes to convict
Trump is
removed.
2/3 threshold
not met
Trump
remains
in office.
Senate trial
67 votes
needed to
convict
WE ARE
HERE
53 Republicans
45 Democrats
2 Independents
who caucus with Democrats
2/3 of Senate
votes to convict.
2/3 threshold
not met
Trump is
removed.
Trump
remains
in office.
Senate trial
WE ARE
HERE
67 votes needed to convict—
53 Republicans
45 Democrats
2 Independents
who caucus with Democrats
2/3 of Senate
votes to convict
2/3 threshold
not met
Trump is
removed.
Trump remains
in office.
Senate trial
WE ARE
HERE
67 votes needed to convict—
53 Republicans
45 Democrats
2 Independents
who caucus with Democrats
2/3 of Senate
votes to convict
2/3 threshold
not met
Trump is
removed.
Trump remains
in office.
Following final arguments — that occur either after the case’s dismissal or the calling of witnesses and introduction of evidence — the Senate deliberates behind closed doors. However, voting is done in open session. The bar is high for conviction: a two-thirds majority of the senators present.
[Which senators support removing Trump]
If convicted of any charge, the president is removed from office and cannot pardon himself to avoid losing his position, according to the Constitution. The vice president becomes president.
Clinton was handily acquitted, but only one “nay” vote on each of three charges kept Johnson from being removed from office.
Related stories:
Who’s involved in the Trump impeachment inquiry
What’s next in the public impeachment hearings
Live updates: Historic impeachment hearing begins
Read the text message excerpts between U.S. diplomats, Giuliani and a Ukrainian aide
Why now? The moments that moved Pelosi and House Democrats toward impeachment
Note: There are 431 members of the House as four seats are currently vacant.
Photos by The Washington Post, Getty Images, and the U.S. House Office of Photography
This graphic originally published on Sept. 25, 2019
