Final answer:
Cabinet members can be impeached for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors". The process starts in the House with an accusation and moves to a Senate trial, requiring a two-thirds vote for conviction and removal from office.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cabinet member can be impeached for the same reasons as a president, namely "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" as outlined in Section 4 Clause 1.
The impeachment process begins in the House of Representatives, which has the sole power to impeach, and a simple majority vote is needed to accuse the official of wrongdoing. Following the accusation, the Senate conducts a trial where a two-thirds vote is necessary to convict and remove the official from office.
According to the procedure described in Section 2 Clause 5, the House selects its officers and can initiate proceedings to remove executive and judicial officers.
While historically the attempted impeachment of President Andrew Johnson involved the issue of cabinet removal, impeachments of cabinet members are rare.
If the Senate convicts the cabinet member, not only can they be removed from their current position, but under Article I, Section 3, Clause 7, they may also be barred from holding any future federal office.
The impeachment process serves as a constitutional check on officials by ensuring accountability and upholding the principle that no government official is above the law.