U.S. Constitution · Article II, Section 4
Impeachment
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Also known as: Impeachment Clause
Live in the VFA record
Cited in 1 Constitution Index grade this month.
2 public items cite this provision · 1 in October 2026 (last month: 0)
Citations per week, last 12 weeks
The text
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
National Archives transcription (public domain; original spelling and capitalization). archives.gov
SI explainer
An explainer for this provision is in the queue. It appears here once it passes the SI Editorial Standard’s automated checks. The text, founding-era sources and live citations below are complete.
In the founders’ words
- “The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself.” Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 65 (1788-03-07)
- “Mr. MADISON So vague a term will be equivalent to a tenure during pleasure of the Senate. Mr. Govr. MORRIS , it will not be put in force & can do no harm. An election of every four years will prevent maladministration. Col. MASON withdrew "maladministration" & substitutes "other high crimes & misdemesnors agst. the State"” James Madison, Madison's Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention, September 8, 1787 (1787-09-08)
- “Mr. MADISON , objected to a trial of the President by the Senate, especially as he was to be impeached by the other branch of the Legislature, and for any act which might be called a misdemesnor. The President under these circumstances was made improperly dependent.” James Madison, Madison's Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention, September 8, 1787 (1787-09-08)
- “Docr. FRANKLIN was for retaining the clause as favorable to the Executive. History furnishes one example only of a first Magistrate being formally brought to public Justice. Every body cried out agst. this as unconstitutional. What was the practice before this in cases where the chief Magistrate rendered himself obnoxious? Why recourse was had to assassination in wch. he was not only deprived of his life but of the opportunity of vindicating his character.” James Madison, Madison's Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention, July 20, 1787 (1787-07-20)
Public-domain primary sources, quoted word for word and checked against the linked text.
Cited in the VFA record
“Where this provision is cited”
grades (1)
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H.Res. 939: Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States for high crimes and misdemeanors.
2026-10-13 · Grade A (Constitutional)
roll-call votes (1)
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House roll call 322 (2025): On Motion to Table on H RES 939
2025-12-11 · Passed · official record
Roll-call votes are listed when the measure voted on has a current Constitution Index grade citing this provision. Counts include only published items.
Cite this page
Values for America Constitution Explorer, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution (text: National Archives transcription, public domain), Article II, Section 4, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution/article-2/section-4
Data: this provision as JSON.