The essay deals with the instrument of impeachment in den United States of America. Inspired by the recently debated impeachment trial against President Trump, the author establishes a critical perspective on the aforesaid legal instrument. After giving an overview of the historical roots of impeachment, the exact procedure and its problems are discussed. Concluding, the author proposes an alternative concept which may be able to retrieve the instrument of impeachment out of the ivory tower.
Der Autor beschäftigt sich im vorliegenden Werk mit dem Amtsenthebungsverfahren in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika. Die hochaktuelle Thematik wird - inspiriert durch den Impeachment-Prozess gegen US-Präsident Donald Trump - von diversen Seiten beleuchtet. Zunächst werden die geschichtlichen Ursprünge des Rechtsinstituts der Amtsenthebung untersucht, woraufhin dann die aktuelle amerikanische Rechtslage und der sich daraus ergebende Verfahrensgang eines Impeachment-Prozesses aufbereitet werden. Nachdem der Autor im Anschluss Vergleiche mit der Amtsenthebung in anderen Demokratien anstellt, erörtert er schließlich, warum die amerikanische Lösung nicht mehr als ein stumpfes Schwert ist und schlägt daher konsequenterweise im Nachgang einige Reformansätze vor.
Der in englischer Sprache verfasste Aufsatz eignet sich ideal dazu, um sich einen umfassenden Überblick über die Grundstrukturen und die Probleme des amerikanischen Amtsenthebungsverfahrens zu verschaffen und das Rechtsinstitut - angetrieben durch die Reformvorschläge des Autors - kritisch zu durchdenken und dessen rechtsstaatlichen Mehrwert zu hinterfragen.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- A. Introduction.
- B. The instrument of impeachment in the United States...........
- I. Historical background ........
- II. Constitutional anchorage.
- III. Proceeding
- 1. The House of Representatives: Sole Impeachment Power....
- a. Initiation
- b. Investigation………………………………
- c. Final House action.
- 2. The Senate: Sole Power to Try Impeachments
- a. Trial preparation.
- b. Trial procedure.
- c. Judgement.....
- C. How other democracies remove sitting officials
- I. Germany..\n
- II. Austria\n
- III. Brazil\n
- D. Why impeachment is a blunt sword.
- I. Obstruction of inquiries .....
- II. The political system.
- III. Modern partisanship .\n
- E. Alternative concepts
- I. Additional branch of control.\n
- II. Accountability reform..\n
- III. Synthesis.........
- F. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The purpose of this study is to examine the impeachment process in the United States and explore why the process is flawed. The author discusses the historical background, constitutional basis, and procedural steps involved in impeachment. The study further compares the impeachment process in the United States with other democracies.
- The historical development and constitutional basis of impeachment in the United States.
- The procedural steps involved in the impeachment process.
- Comparisons with other democracies and their methods for removing officials.
- The limitations and shortcomings of impeachment as a mechanism for accountability.
- Alternative concepts and reforms aimed at improving government accountability.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The introduction provides a general overview of the topic and sets the stage for the subsequent analysis of the impeachment process.
- The instrument of impeachment in the United States: This section dives into the historical background, constitutional basis, and procedural steps of impeachment in the United States, covering both the House of Representatives' and the Senate's roles.
- How other democracies remove sitting officials: This chapter compares the US impeachment process with the mechanisms for removing officials in other democracies, including Germany, Austria, and Brazil.
- Why impeachment is a blunt sword: This section analyzes the limitations and shortcomings of impeachment as a tool for holding officials accountable, highlighting issues like obstruction of inquiries, the influence of the political system, and the effects of modern partisanship.
- Alternative concepts: This section explores alternative concepts and proposed reforms aimed at improving government accountability and addressing the perceived shortcomings of impeachment.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This study focuses on the impeachment process, its historical development, its constitutional basis, and its practical application in the United States. It examines the procedural steps, the role of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the limitations of impeachment as a tool for accountability. Additionally, the study compares the US impeachment process with other democracies and explores alternative concepts and reforms aimed at improving government accountability.
- Quote paper
- Alexander Pollithy (Author), 2020, Good thing gone bad. Why impeachment needs to be impeached, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/943806
