What happens if a president in US breaks the law?

Answer 1

impeach

Their are two phases.

1. The House of Representatives must vote, with a simple majority, to impeach the official, in your question it would be the President. This is similar to the acts a Grand Jury would take. If the vote is made the person is impeached, or formally accused.

2. After the President has been impeached, the Senate then tries the case. The Senate acts as a jury, and a 2/3 majority of all Senators present is necessary for a conviction.

I hope this helped.

Answer 2

Theoretically the president could be arrested. Franklin Pierce was arrested for running over an old woman while he served as president, though charges were later dropped.

The president may also be removed for "high crimes and misdemeanors." A majority of the House of Representatives would have to vote to impeach, and the Senate would conduct a trial, with the Supreme Court Chief Justice presiding. If 2/3rds of the Senate votes to remove, the president would be removed from office. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both impeached, but the vote to remove in the Senate failed in both cases.

Answer 3

Article 2 Section 4 of the United States Constitution provides that the President shall be removed from office upon impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Article 2 Section 4 of the United States Constitution provides that the President shall be removed from office upon impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Answer 4

There should be enough protection in place to make sure he does not. On the other hand and depending on the severity of the case, he could be impeached. Accused before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office. He may be impeached by the House of Representatives, The articles of impeachment once approved by a simple majority are then submitted to the Senate, the Senate then holds a trial and and each member voted for or against a conviction. Two thirds must approve. Once convicted a President can be removed from office for high crimes and misdemeanours, impeachment can also occure for misconduct that is not necessarily criminal, as a violation of the Constitution.

Several Presidents have been impeached. Andrew Johnson after the civil war, but was aquitted. Richard Nixon resigned from office before impeachment. William Clinton was impeached in 1998 but was aquitted the following year.

Answer 5

Congress has the power to remove a President from office. The process begins with the House of Representatives passing a bill of impeachment which lists the charges against the President. Passage of such a bill requires the Senate to hold a trial based on the charges. The Senate also serves as the jury with a 2/3 vote required to convict.

The House is not likely to act unless there are serious, well substantiated charges against the President. Questionable charges are not likely to get the 67 votes needed to convict. Presidents usually have a lot of friends and supporters in the Senate and they will give the President the benefit of any possible doubt.