Impeachment is the formal process by which a legislature (such as Congress) charges a high government official with serious misconduct. Think of it as bringing official accusations, similar to how a prosecutor charges someone with a crime, but impeachment applies to presidents, judges, and other top officials.

In the United States, the House of Representatives has the power to impeach a president by voting on specific charges called “articles of impeachment.” These charges typically involve serious offenses like abuse of power, obstruction of justice, or other violations of the public trust. If the House votes to impeach, the case moves to the Senate, which holds a trial to determine whether the official should be removed from office.

Here's the crucial point: impeachment itself doesn't mean removal. It means formal charges have been brought. The Senate must then convict the official by a two-thirds vote to actually remove them from office. Several U.S. presidents have been impeached by the House, but none have been convicted and removed by the Senate.

When you hear that an official faces impeachment proceedings, it means the legislature is investigating whether formal charges should be brought. The process exists to hold powerful officials accountable when they allegedly violate their oath of office.