What is the difference between the House of Representatives power to impeach and the Senate's power to try impeachments?

Answer 1

The House of Representatives indicts the accused on articles of impeachment, and, if impeached, the Senate conducts a trial to determine the party's guilt or innocence.

Impeachment is a two-step process; the impeachment phase is similar to a Grand Jury hearing, where charges (called "articles of impeachment") are presented and the House of Representatives determines whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant a trial. If the House vote passes by a simple majority, the defendant is "impeached," and proceeds to trial in the Senate.

The Senate trial, while analogous to a criminal trial, only convenes for the purpose of determining whether a Justice, the President (or another officeholder) should be removed from office on the basis of the evidence presented at impeachment.

At the trial a committee from the House of Representatives, called "Managers," act as the prosecutor. If the President is on trial, the Chief Justice of the United States (Supreme Court) presides. For all other impeachment trials, an "Impeachment Trial Committee" of Senators act as the presiding judges. This practice began in 1986 when the Senate amended its Rules and Procedures for Impeachment Trials and has been contested by several federal court judges, but the Supreme Court has declined to interfere in the process, calling the issue a political, not legal, matter.

At the conclusion of the trial, the Trial Committee presents a report and the full Senate votes for conviction or acquittal. They must return a two-thirds Super Majority for conviction. Convicted officials are removed from office immediately and barred from holding future office.

Answer 2

42.