American Government CLEP Prep Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term for the process of formally accusing a high-level government official of wrongdoing in the United States is "impeachment." This process is outlined in the U.S. Constitution and provides a mechanism for Congress to remove a sitting president, vice president, or other federal officials who are guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Impeachment begins in the House of Representatives, where representatives can introduce articles of impeachment, which are essentially formal charges. If a majority of the House votes in favor of these articles, the official is impeached, meaning they are formally accused. The process then moves to the Senate, where a trial is held, and a two-thirds majority vote is required to convict and subsequently remove the official from office. This system serves as a check on executive power and a way to hold officials accountable for their actions.

Ratification refers to the formal approval of treaties or constitutional amendments and does not pertain to accusations of wrongdoing. Filibustering is a legislative strategy used in the Senate to extend debate on a bill, thereby delaying or preventing a vote, and is unrelated to the process of impeachment. Gerrymandering involves the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party but has no connection to the process of holding officials