impeach
to accuse someone of a crime
TRANSLATION
impeach = anklagen, wegen Amtsvergehen anklagen impeachment = Amtsenthebungsverfahren to impeach a witness's credibility = die Glaubwürdigkeit eines Zeugen in Frage stellen
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
As well as its five football World Cup victories and the world’s largest rainforest, Brazil has just acquired another unique distinction. It is the only country to have IMPEACHED two presidents in just 24 years.
The Economist (The impeachment country)
The Economist (The impeachment country)
Did you
know?
impeach
verb
1. (criminal law) to bring a charge or accusation against
2. (Brit, criminal law) to accuse of a crime, esp of treason or some other offence against the state
3. (mainly US) to charge (a public official) with an offence committed in office
4. to challenge or question (a person's honesty, integrity, etc)
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ORIGIN
14th century, from Old French empeechier, from Late Latin impedicāre to entangle, catch, from Latin im- (in) + pedica a fetter, from pēs foot
Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of Government. Impeachment does not necessarily mean removal from office; it is only a formal statement of charges, akin to an indictment in criminal law, and is thus only the first step towards removal. Once an individual is impeached, he or she must then face the possibility of conviction via legislative vote, which then entails the removal of the individual from office.
Because impeachment and conviction of officials involves an overturning of the normal Constitutional procedures by which individuals achieve high office (election, ratification, or appointment) and because it generally requires a supermajority, it is usually only reserved for those deemed to have committed serious abuses of their office. In the United States, for example, impeachment at the Federal level is reserved for those who may have committed "high crimes and misdemeanors".
Several Federal officials, including two Presidents (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, who were both acquitted) and several judges, have been impeached over the course of US history. US President Richard Nixon resigned before Watergate scandal impeachment proceedings could begin.
Wikipedia
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SYNONYMS
accuse, arraign, criticise, discredit, indict, reprimand, blame, challenge, charge, disparage, impugn, incriminate, inculpate, reprehend, try, bring charges against, call into question, call to account, cast aspersions on, cast doubt on
verb
1. (criminal law) to bring a charge or accusation against
2. (Brit, criminal law) to accuse of a crime, esp of treason or some other offence against the state
3. (mainly US) to charge (a public official) with an offence committed in office
4. to challenge or question (a person's honesty, integrity, etc)
---
ORIGIN
14th century, from Old French empeechier, from Late Latin impedicāre to entangle, catch, from Latin im- (in) + pedica a fetter, from pēs foot
Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of Government. Impeachment does not necessarily mean removal from office; it is only a formal statement of charges, akin to an indictment in criminal law, and is thus only the first step towards removal. Once an individual is impeached, he or she must then face the possibility of conviction via legislative vote, which then entails the removal of the individual from office.
Because impeachment and conviction of officials involves an overturning of the normal Constitutional procedures by which individuals achieve high office (election, ratification, or appointment) and because it generally requires a supermajority, it is usually only reserved for those deemed to have committed serious abuses of their office. In the United States, for example, impeachment at the Federal level is reserved for those who may have committed "high crimes and misdemeanors".
Several Federal officials, including two Presidents (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, who were both acquitted) and several judges, have been impeached over the course of US history. US President Richard Nixon resigned before Watergate scandal impeachment proceedings could begin.
Wikipedia
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SYNONYMS
accuse, arraign, criticise, discredit, indict, reprimand, blame, challenge, charge, disparage, impugn, incriminate, inculpate, reprehend, try, bring charges against, call into question, call to account, cast aspersions on, cast doubt on
