Flashcards Studio

A city mayor of Metroville is accused by the City Council of two impeachable offenses: (i) accepting bribes in exchange for awarding a public contract, and (ii) approving a budget line item that directly benefits the contractor and results in misappropriation of city funds. The House of Representatives receives an impeachment complaint and, after procedure, adopts articles of impeachment against the mayor. The articles are transmitted to the Senate, which convicts and removes the mayor 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 office? (c) Can the same acts be the basis of criminal charges in the ordinary courts? Explain your answer with the governing rationale.