In which chamber of Congress does the impeachment process initiate?

• A. The Senate
• B. The House of Representatives
• C. The Joint Committee
• D. The Supreme Court

Answer: (B)

The impeachment process begins in the House of Representatives. This is established by the U.S. Constitution, which grants the House the exclusive power to initiate impeachment proceedings. When a federal official is believed to have committed "high Crimes and Misdemeanors," the House conducts an investigation and can vote to impeach. If a simple majority votes in favor of impeachment, the articles of impeachment are then sent to the Senate, which holds the trial.

This foundational role of the House underscores its purpose as a body that represents the people, allowing them a direct avenue to hold officials accountable. The Senate, on the other hand, plays a different role by conducting the trial and deciding whether to convict and remove the official from office. The Joint Committee is not involved in impeachment, and the Supreme Court has no role in the process of impeachment itself; it handles cases that arise regarding the interpretation of laws or constitutional issues, rather than the impeachment process directly.