CongressDays.4

US Constitution, Article II (Executive Branch)

 * Section 4.** The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

First Order of Business
93D Congress, 1st Session. February 5, 1973 S. Res. 60 [|RESOLUTION] To establish a select committee of the Senate to conduct an investigation and study of the extent, if any, to which illegal, improper, or unethical activities were engaged in by any persons, acting individually or in combination with others, in the presidential election of 1972, or any campaign, canvass, or other activity related to it. By [|Mr. Ervin] and [|Mr. Mansfield]

Public Televised Hearings of Ervin's Committee
Phase One: 17 May - 7 August, 1973

Phase Two: 24 Sept 1973 - February 1974

House Judiciary Committee Investigation, February - July 1974
February 6, 1974
 * H.RES.803**
 * Title:** Resolution providing appropriate power to the Committee on the Judiciary to conduct an investigation of whether sufficient grounds exist to impeach Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States.
 * Sponsor:** [|Peter W. Rodino, Jr.] [NJ-10]


 * Summary:**
 * Authorizes the House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate fully and completely whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to impeach President Richard M. Nixon.
 * States that the Committee may require, by subpoena, interrogatory, or otherwise, the furnishing of such information as it deems necessary to such an investigation. Provides that such authority may be exercised by the chairman and the ranking minority member acting jointly or by the committee acting as a whole or by subcommittee.
 * Stipulates that any funds made available to the Committee on the Judiciary may be expended for the purpose of carrying out the investigation.

House Judiciary Committee Vote on Articles of Impeachment 24-30 July 1974
[|Full list here]

__Possibilities for specific allegations of presidential misconduct:__

1) Cover-up of White House involvement in the Watergate wiretapping-burglary

2) Attempt to defame Pentagon Papers defendant Daniel Ellsberg with information obtained through a burglary of his psychiatrist

3) Firing of White House Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox

4) Evasion of income taxes

5) Use of public funds to enhance the value of his personal real estate properties in Key Biscayne, Florida and San Clemente, California

//Source:// "[|The Nation: The Charges: Articles of Impeachment]," //Time Magazine,// Monday 29 July 1974

Indictment of Citizen Nixon? August 1974
Should the Special Prosecutor, Leon Jaworski, seek criminal indictment of the former President?

[|Documents] and [|resources] here

What to do on your committee page:
Today: Record the individual votes of the people in your committee, and your reasons for them. Feel free to comment on any aspect of the discussion & simulation.

And, everyone should respond to the Jaworski memo ([|found here]) - what do you think should have been done after Nixon's resignation, before Ford's pardon?

Between now and the next Congress Day (next Wednesday), clean up and proofread your page in general.

In our next Congress Day on Wednesday 3/31, each committee will begin to draft legislation about an issue that YOU think is important in the period since 1980. Begin thinking about what your committee's issue might be.