How Impeachment Works: The House Charges, the Senate Tries

Reviewed: November 7, 2026

Impeachment is how Congress can charge and remove the president, the vice president and other federal officials. The Constitution says they "shall be removed from Office on Impeachment" for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors (Article II, Section 4). Being impeached is a formal charge, not removal: that takes a conviction in the Senate.

Step 1: the House impeaches

• The House has the sole power of impeachment (Article I, Section 2).
• Any member can file a resolution of impeachment with one or more charges, called articles. The ones filed in the current Congress were sent to the House Judiciary Committee.
• The House impeaches when a simple majority of members voting approves at least one article.

Step 2: the Senate holds a trial

• The Senate has the sole power to try impeachments (Article I, Section 3). When the president is tried, the Chief Justice presides.
• Conviction takes two-thirds of the senators present: 67 if all 100 vote.
• The punishment is limited to removal from office and, if the Senate votes for it, disqualification from holding federal office again. The person can still face criminal charges in court.

How often it has happened lately

• Donald Trump was impeached twice in his first term, over his dealings with Ukraine and over the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. The Senate acquitted him both times.
• Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security secretary, was impeached in February 2024, only the second Cabinet secretary ever impeached. On April 17, 2024 the Senate dismissed both articles, voting 51–48 and 51–49 that they were unconstitutional.

After the 2026 midterms

Democrats will control both the House and the Senate when the new Congress convenes in January (see when the new Congress takes office). Resolutions filed under the Republican House never got a vote:

• H.Res. 935, against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, filed by Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) on December 9, 2025.
• H.Res. 944, against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., filed by Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) on December 10, 2025.
• H.Res. 1391, against Education Secretary Linda McMahon, filed by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) on June 25, 2026.
• At least four resolutions against President Trump, according to USA Today.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has said he will reintroduce his own articles against Hegseth unless Hegseth resigns; Hegseth has called them a "sham." Follow each one on the impeachment tracker.

What the polls say: in a September 2026 Economist/YouGov poll, 51% of registered voters supported impeaching Hegseth over the Iran war and 34% opposed. In a November 2, 2026 YouGov survey of adults, 43% thought it very or somewhat likely that a Democratic Congress would impeach and remove Trump, 35% thought it unlikely and 21% weren't sure. See more polls on the issues.

Sources: U.S. Constitution, Article I, Sections 2 and 3, and Article II, Section 4 (constitution.congress.gov); USA Today, "Pete Hegseth stares down likely impeachment vote. And he's not the only one" (November 4, 2026); NewsNation, "Trump, Hegseth and other cabinet members that could face impeachment" (November 5, 2026); CBS News, "Senate rejects Mayorkas impeachment charges at trial" (April 17, 2024); The 74 (June 25, 2026); Colorado Politics (December 10, 2025); Congress.gov; Washington Examiner (September 22, 2026); YouGov daily results (November 2, 2026).

More explainers

• What Is the Filibuster? How the Senate's 60-Vote Rule Works
• How a Bill Becomes Law: The Steps in Congress
• How Is the Speaker of the House Elected?
• What Senate Control Means for Nominations and Laws
• Divided Government, Explained

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