<P> At the federal level, Article Two of the United States Constitution states in Section 4 that "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 ." The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeaching, while the United States Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments . The removal of impeached officials is automatic upon conviction in the Senate . In Nixon v. United States (1993), the Supreme Court determined that the federal judiciary cannot review such proceedings . </P> <P> Impeachment can also occur at the state level: state legislatures can impeach state officials, including governors, in accordance with their respective state constitutions . </P> <P> At the Philadelphia Convention, Benjamin Franklin noted that, historically, the removal of "obnoxious" chief executives had been accomplished by assassination . Franklin suggested that a proceduralized mechanism for legal removal--impeachment--would be preferable . </P> <P> Impeachment proceedings may be commenced by a member of the House of Representatives on her or his own initiative, either by presenting a list of the charges under oath or by asking for referral to the appropriate committee . The impeachment process may be initiated by non-members . For example, when the Judicial Conference of the United States suggests a federal judge be impeached, a charge of actions constituting grounds for impeachment may come from a special prosecutor, the President, or state or territorial legislature, grand jury, or by petition . </P>

How many members of the senate must vote to successfully impeach a federal official