Final answer:
The forced removal of a president through impeachment requires actions by both the House of Representatives, which initiates impeachment, and the Senate, which conducts the trial and votes on conviction. Conviction and removal require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The forced removal of a president from office through impeachment and conviction requires action by both the House of Representatives and the Senate in separate proceedings. The impeachment process is a constitutional mechanism designed to hold presidents and other high-ranking officials accountable for wrongdoing and is a two-stage process involving both chambers of Congress.
The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach, which is the equivalent of bringing formal charges against an official. Impeachment requires a simple majority vote in the House. If the House votes to impeach, the Senate then holds a trial over which the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides. Conviction and removal from office require a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate. If the president is convicted, they are removed from office and may be disqualified from holding future office.
In history, only a few impeachment trials have been conducted, and while two presidents, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, have been impeached by the House, neither was convicted by the Senate. The process of impeachment emphasises the checks and balances within the American government, ensuring that a single individual or entity does not gain unchecked power.