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Republican members of the House impeached Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland safety secretary, with a easy majority vote on Tuesday. It units off a sequence of choreographed rituals that dates again to the impeachment of former President Andrew Johnson in 1868. Here’s a have a look at what occurs subsequent.
A ceremonial procession
Once the House approves two articles of impeachment laying out the accusations towards Mr. Mayorkas as a part of its oversight and investigatory obligations, they’re then walked over to the Senate.
The day after President Johnson was impeached, in February 1868, the articles of impeachment had been delivered to the Senate by Representative Thaddeus Stevens, Republican of Pennsylvania. Mr. Stevens was so in poor health that he needed to be carried by the Capitol.
Once the articles are delivered, the Senate, performing as a High Court of Impeachment, would schedule a trial throughout which senators would take into account proof, hear witnesses and, in the end, vote to acquit or convict. They might additionally vote to dismiss the costs.
The Senate trial
The House speaker names impeachment managers from the chamber who could be tasked with arguing the case towards the impeached official, serving because the prosecution staff within the Senate trial.
In the case of Mr. Mayorkas, the impeachment articles additionally appoint 11 impeachment managers. The group consists of Representatives Mark E. Green of Tennessee, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee that drew up the costs, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, who has led the drive to hunt his removing. Also a part of the staff are Representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ben Cline of Virginia, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Andrew Garbarino of New York, Michael Guest of Mississippi, Harriet M. Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida, Michael McCaul of Texas and August Pfluger of Texas.
The Biden administration would have the proper to have an agent or legal professional seem to reply for the articles of impeachment towards Mr. Mayorkas. That consists of appointing House Democrats to serve on the protection staff.
In a trial, senators would sit as a jury in judgment of Mr. Mayorkas. For many, it will be the third impeachment trial they’d sit by, after two consecutive impeachment trials of former President Donald J. Trump, in 2020 and 2021. Eventually, senators would take a vote on the costs. They might comply with dismiss the articles or render a verdict.
The verdict
If a trial strikes ahead with out the costs being dismissed, a two-thirds majority could be required to convict and take away Mr. Mayorkas, an exceedingly unlikely end result on condition that Democrats management the Senate. Democrats have the bulk, holding 48 seats and the votes of three independents who caucus with them. Senate Republicans are within the minority, controlling 49 seats. If Democrats held collectively in help of him, Mr. Mayorkas could be acquitted even when each Republican voted to convict.
If he had been to be discovered responsible, in keeping with Article II, Section Four of the Constitution, Mr. Mayorkas could be faraway from his place and the Senate might vote to bar him from having the ability to maintain workplace once more.
