- published: 17 Jun 2016
- views: 81928
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as criminal or civil punishment.
The word "impeachment" derives from Latin roots expressing the idea of becoming caught or entrapped, and has analogues in the modern French verb empêcher (to prevent) and the modern English impede. Medieval popular etymology also associated it (wrongly) with derivations from the Latin impetere (to attack). (In its more frequent and more technical usage, impeachment of a witness means challenging the honesty or credibility of that person.)
The impeachment process should not be confused with a recall election, which is usually initiated by voters and can be based on "political charges", for example mismanagement. Impeachment is initiated by a constitutional body (usually legislative) and usually—but not always—stems from an indictable offense. The steps that remove the official from office are also different.