Federalist No. 66 – Cathy Gillespie
In Federalist No. 66, Hamilton continues his defense of the Senate’s role as court of trial in the impeachment process. The anti-federalists believed this role concentrated too much power in the hands of the Senate. As we work our way through the Federalist Papers, it is fascinating to have the benefit of hindsight to explore how the structure built by the framers has played out.
In my personal journey through our 90 in 90, History Holds the Key to the Future, I have learned just how much I did not know!!
I have discovered the Senate.Gov website is a marvelous resource and repository of history. I consulted it for a list of Senate impeachment trials, and found this link:
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Impeachment_Role.htm#4
The above link contains an illuminating narrative of the Senate’s role in impeachment trials, and the major controversies that have arisen over the years, including the definition of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
In 1960 U.S. Rep Gerald Ford famously stated, “An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.”
The link also contains the below listing of Senate Impeachment Trials. Since 1789, the Senate has conducted 19 impeachment proceedings, with an even split of 7 acquittals and 7 convictions. Three cases were dismissed.
Complete List of Senate Impeachment Trials
To date, the Senate has conducted formal impeachment proceedings 19 times, resulting in 7 acquittals, 7 convictions, and 3 dismissals.
William Blount, Senator
Date of Final Senate Action: January 11, 1799
Result: expelled, charges dismissed
_______________________________
John Pickering, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: March 12, 1804
Result: guilty, removed from office
_______________________________
Samuel Chase, Justice
Date of Final Senate Action: March 1, 1805
Result: not guilty
_______________________________
James H. Peck, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: January 31, 1831
Result: not guilty
_______________________________
West H. Humphreys, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: June 26, 1862
Result: guilty
_______________________________
Andrew Johnson, President
Date of Final Senate Action: May 16/26, 1868
Result: not guilty
_______________________________
Mark H. Delahay, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: no action
Result: resigned
_______________________________
William Belknap, Secretary of War
Date of Final Senate Action: August 1, 1876
Result: not guilty
_______________________________
Charles Swayne, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: February 27, 1905
Result: not guilty
_______________________________
Robert Archbald, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: January 13, 1913
Result: guilty, removed
_______________________________
George W. English, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: December 13, 1926
Result: resigned, charges dismissed
_______________________________
Harold Louderback, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: May 24, 1933
Result: not guilty
_______________________________
Halsted Ritter, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: April 17, 1936
Result: guilty, removed from office
_______________________________
Date of Final Senate Action: October 9, 1986
Result: guilty, removed from office
_______________________________
Date of Final Senate Action: October 20, 1989
Result: guilty, removed from office
_______________________________
Walter Nixon, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: November 3, 1989
Result: guilty, removed from office
_______________________________
William J. Clinton, President
Date of Final Senate Action: February 12, 1999
Result: not guilty
_______________________________
Samuel B. Kent, Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: July 22, 2009
Result: resigned, case dismissed
_______________________________
G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., Judge
Date of Final Senate Action: case pending
I hope you all are learning as much as I am about the history of our country, the founding principles upon which our country is based and how these principles were applied by the framers in creating the structure of our Republic, through the United States Constitution!!
Thank you for joining us!!
Good night and God Bless,
Cathy Gillespie
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
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