Flashcards Studio

In the scenario below, a high-ranking official—the Director of the National Privacy Commission (NPC)—is impeached by the House of Representatives for two impeachable offenses: (i) gross abuse of power by issuing a directive that compromised the independence of an ongoing data-privacy investigation in favor of a private data-analytics firm in which the Director has a substantial stake, thereby causing reputational harm and potential financial losses; (ii) using his office to direct a nationwide procurement for privacy software to that same firm, with undisclosed personal benefits. After due process, the House adopts two articles of impeachment and transmits them to the Senate. The Senate convicts and removes the Director from office and disqualifies him from future public service. (a) Identify the controlling doctrine on impeachment and assess whether the House’s act to initiate impeachment is proper under the Constitution. (b) What is the effect of a conviction by the Senate on the official’s office and his future eligibility for public service? (c) Can the same acts be the basis of criminal charges in the ordinary courts? Explain your answer with the governing rationale.