How Many Presidents Have Been Impeached?

The presidency is one of the most powerful and scrutinized positions in the world, with the power to shape the course of history. But with great power comes great accountability, and the Constitution provides a mechanism for Congress to remove a president from office through impeachment. But how often has this mechanism been used, and against which presidents? Let’s take a look at the history of presidential impeachment ¹.

Take the quiz to find out!

Here are five facts about presidential impeachments:

1. Impeachment Process: The impeachment process begins in the House of Representatives, where a simple majority vote is required to impeach a president.
2. Grounds for Impeachment: According to Article II, Section 4 of the US Constitution, a president can be impeached for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
3. Impeachment vs. Removal: Impeachment does not necessarily mean removal from office. After impeachment, the Senate conducts a trial, and a two-thirds majority vote is required to convict and remove the president.
4. Presidential Immunity: The Supreme Court has ruled that a sitting president cannot be indicted or prosecuted while in office. However, this does not grant immunity from impeachment.
5. Historical Precedent: The first presidential impeachment occurred in 1868, when President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives.

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