Final answer:
The House of Representatives is the government body that initiates the impeachment process. Impeachment charges are brought by the House, followed by a trial in the Senate where a conviction requires a two-thirds majority. This process is established by the U.S. Constitution and is a safeguard against abuse of power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government body that starts the impeachment process is the House of Representatives. According to Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution, the House has the sole power to impeach, which means to bring charges against a federal official, including the President, for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The impeachment is merely an accusation or charge, not a conviction. The Senate is then responsible for conducting the trial, where a two-thirds vote is necessary for a conviction, which can lead to removal from office.The impeachment proceedings involve the House of Representatives acting as the prosecution, with the power to bring forward articles of impeachment. If the House votes to impeach by a simple majority, the process moves to the Senate. The trial occurs in the Senate, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding over a presidential impeachment trial. A two-thirds majority in the Senate is needed to convict and remove the official from office.
Historically, there have been only a few instances where an impeachment trial has led to the Senate voting on whether to convict a President. Notably, Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both impeached by the House, but neither was convicted by the Senate. An impeachment trial is a critical constitutional mechanism designed to hold federal officials accountable and prevent the potential for any form of tyranny.