Q&A;

Q: What is the Senate’s constitutional role?

A: To try the president on the articles of impeach-ment approved by the House.

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Q: Who presides over the trial?

A: In presidential impeachments, the chief justice of the United States--now William H. Rehnquist.

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Q: What is his role?

A: Administering the oath to the senators, ruling on all points of law, evidence and rules, although senators can override his judgment by a simple majority vote.

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Q: Who presents the case against the president?

A: The House has selected 13 Republican members of the Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Henry J. Hyde of Illinois, to serve as managers, or prosecutors.

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Q: What rules govern the Senate when it acts as an impeachment court?

A: Internal Senate rules, contained in the Senate Manual, and last modified on Aug. 16, 1986, corresponding to the 1986 impeachment proceedings against U.S. District Judge Harry Claiborne. The Senate can change or revise the rules by a simple majority.

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Q: Do the current rules require the president to attend the trial?

A: The Senate issued a writ of summons to the president, setting a date to appear and answer the charges. The president may appear or be represented by his legal team--for this appearance or throughout the trial.

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Q: Does the Senate meet in open session for an impeachment trial?

A: The Senate conducts the trial in open session, according to its rules. Senators also may hold their deliberations in a public session. But the internal rules allow the Senate to close its doors at such time and allot each senator 15 minutes of debate. Transcripts are kept of all impeachment trial activities, even secret deliberations. After the trial, senators may vote to permit the release of such confidential sessions.

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Q: How does the Senate render its judgment?

A: Senators vote in open session on each article. The chief justice calls the names of senators alphabetically; each senator stands in place, responding “guilty” or “not guilty.” A conviction requires a two-thirds majority of those senators present. If convicted on any article, the president is considered removed from office immediately. The Senate does not have to vote on all articles before it. Senators also may vote on whether to disqualify the president from holding public office again; this vote requires only a majority to pass.

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Q: Does the Senate conduct regular legislative business during the trial?

A: According to the impeachment rules, the Senate sits as an impeachment court at noon daily, unless senators decide otherwise. After each trial day ends, the Senate may turn to other work.