The impeachment process for Donald J. Trump began on September 24th of 2019. Today - January 23rd - we’re just getting into the Trial portion of impeachment. Among the discoveries in American households when impeachment began was that it doesn’t *actually* mean an automatic unseating of the president. In-fact, in the other rare circumstances of Presidential impeachment, the President has been acquitted. 

What’s Most Important to Know About Impeachment?

It’s the official process of review, accusation, and trial for a government official. The first process begun in 1789 - and it isn’t reserved for Presidents. In-fact, The House of Representatives has initiated the process of impeachment 62 times since 1789 including Thomas Porteous - a more recent and much quieter impeachment, William O. Douglas the Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1953, and the first - William Blount impeached July 7, 1797 - a U.S. Senator. 

Impeachment isn’t just a Federal process. In-fact, individual state legislatures have the power to impeach state officials. The process would look something like the Assembly (the lower house) initiating impeachment proceedings, and the State’s Senate tries the case. In some cases - the members of the State Court of Appeals will sit with the senators jurors. 

What Comes Next?

We’re in opening arguments. The process is 3 days long and begins with The House managers opening oral arguments. Once hard - Trump’s defense teams present their side of the argument. Each side is given 24 hours each to present their argument. After Closing Arguments there are 5 more steps. 3 within the trial - Senator questions, Decisions on evidence, and closing arguments. After closing arguments all sides evidence will be deliberated in a closed session. After this step of the process the Senate check is a vote on each individual article of impeachment. 

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