The impeachment power : the law, politics, and purpose of an extraordinary constitutional tool / Keith E. Whittington.

The impeachment power : the law, politics, and purpose of an extraordinary constitutional tool / Keith E. Whittington.

Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2024]

1 online resource (v, 244 pages)

"An essential primer on impeachment for today's divided public square. We are witnessing an unprecedented moment in American politics in which impeachments are increasingly common. In today's partisan environment, it is more vital than ever that government officials, scholars, and ordinary citizens understand what an impeachment can reasonably be expected to accomplish. In this incisive and accessible book, Keith Whittington provides needed clarity on the constitutional power of impeachment, explaining why it exists and how it should be used to preserve American democracy. Drawing insights from American and British history, congressional practice, and the language of the Constitution itself, Whittington shows how impeachment is a tool for checking abuses of elective office and defending constitutional norms. While we have come to associate impeachment with the presidency, it can be used to remedy gross misconduct by an array of officers of the federal government. Whittington cautions against abusing this immense and consequential power to settle political scores, demonstrating how it undermines the independence of the branches and makes Congress the seat of political power.Required reading for the informed citizen, The Impeachment Power argues that impeachment is ultimately a political instrument and gives us the perspective we need to recognize when an impeachment might be useful and when we are better served by looking for alternative ways to solve our political problems." -- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on November 12, 2024).

Print version: Whittington, Keith E. Impeachment power Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2024]

Accesss provided by Berkeley Law Library via Project Muse
Access provided by Berkeley Law Library via DOI

English

0691265402 electronic book
9780691265407 (electronic book)
9780691265391 hardcover

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