The U.S. Constitution provides for impeachment and removal from office of the president, vice president, and other government officials for “Conviction of Treason, Bribery, or Other High Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment—the bringing of formal charges against the president or other official. The Senate then holds a trial on the House’s accusations (with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding), with a two-thirds vote necessary for conviction and removal from office.

Impeachment has been referred to as the “atomic bomb” of the American system of government—a necessary tool to combat scandalous and tyrannical actions of the nation’s leaders, but one that should not be used lightly. Only fifteen impeachment trails have taken...