What are charges of wrongdoing to remove elected officials from office?

What are charges of wrongdoing to remove elected officials from office?

• A. Recall
• B. Impeachment
• C. Expulsion
• D. Censure

Answer: (B)

Impeachment is the formal process for charging a public official with wrongdoing. In practice, a legislative body brings charges—often framed as high crimes and misdemeanors—and, if the official is found guilty in a subsequent trial, they are removed from office. This distinguishes impeachment from recall (a voter-initiated removal before the term ends), expulsion (removal by the official’s own legislative chamber for misconduct, without a separate charges process), and censure (a formal rebuke without removal).

Impeachment is the formal process for charging a public official with wrongdoing. In practice, a legislative body brings charges—often framed as high crimes and misdemeanors—and, if the official is found guilty in a subsequent trial, they are removed from office. This distinguishes impeachment from recall (a voter-initiated removal before the term ends), expulsion (removal by the official’s own legislative chamber for misconduct, without a separate charges process), and censure (a formal rebuke without removal).