History of Impeachment in Timeline

Impeachment is a formal process where a legislative body brings charges of misconduct against a public official. Functioning as a blend of political and legal actions, it's initiated by a legislature or tribunal. This process allows for the removal of officials deemed to have abused their power or violated the public trust. While the specific grounds for impeachment vary, they generally involve serious offenses that undermine the integrity of the office. The process typically involves a formal accusation, a trial, and a vote, with removal from office usually requiring a supermajority vote.

1910: Impeachment Limited to Supreme Court Officials

In 1910, with the establishment of the Union of South Africa, only the chief justice and judges of the Supreme Court of South Africa could be impeached, though the term itself was not used.

1927: Last Use of Impeachment

The last time impeachment was used was in 1927.

1948: Establishment of the Republic of Korea

In 1948, the Republic of Korea was established. Since then, the National Assembly has impeached three presidents.

1948: Abolishment of Peers' Privilege in the House of Lords

In 1948, the privilege of peers to trial only in the House of Lords was abolished. This change contributed to impeachment becoming generally considered obsolete in the United Kingdom.

April 1950: Law of Impeachment Enacted in Brazil

On April 10, 1950, Law no. 1.079, also known as "The Law of Impeachment", was enacted in Brazil, stipulating that crimes defined within the law, even attempted ones, are subject to loss of office and disqualification for up to five years from holding any public function, as imposed by the Federal Senate.

1961: Impeachment Scope Broadened to Include State President

In 1961, the scope of impeachment in South Africa was broadened to include the state president following the country becoming a republic.

1972: Constructive Vote of No Confidence

In 1972, there was an unsuccessful constructive vote of no confidence against the chancellor.

1974: Richard Nixon's Resignation

In 1974, Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency to avoid an impeachment vote.

1976: Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh Resigned

In 1976, after being criticised by a minister, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh resigned "to protect the dignity and independence of the presidency as an institution", although there was no question of impeachment.

1978: Presidential Removal in Latin America

Between 1978 and 2019, ten presidents from seven Latin American countries were removed from office by their national legislatures through impeachment or declarations of incapacity.

1981: Impeachment Scope Includes Vice State President

In 1981, the scope of impeachment in South Africa was further broadened to include the new office of vice state president.

1982: Constructive Vote of No Confidence

In 1982, there was a successful constructive vote of no confidence against the chancellor.

September 1987: Applications for Family Reunification of Tamil Refugees Put on Hold

From September 1987 to January 1989, applications for family reunification of Tamil refugees from civil war-torn Sri Lanka were put on hold in violation of Danish and International law.

January 1989: Applications for Family Reunification of Tamil Refugees Put on Hold

From September 1987 to January 1989, applications for family reunification of Tamil refugees from civil war-torn Sri Lanka were put on hold in violation of Danish and International law.

1990: Impeachment Charges in Multiple Countries

From 1990 to 2020, at least 272 impeachment charges were brought against 132 different heads of state in 63 countries.

1991: Attempt to initiate Article 90 Procedure Against Francesco Cossiga

In 1991, there was an attempt by some members of parliamentary opposition to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 90 against President Francesco Cossiga.

1992: Resignation and Conviction of Fernando Collor de Mello

In 1992, Fernando Collor de Mello, the 32nd president of Brazil, resigned amidst impeachment proceedings; despite his resignation, the Senate voted to convict him and barred him from holding any office for eight years due to evidence of bribery and misappropriation.

1992: Senate Publishes Impeachment Procedure

In 1992, the Brazilian Senate published the step-by-step procedure of the Senate's impeachment process in the Official Diary of the Union, detailing the formation of a special committee and closely resembling the lower house process.

1993: Yeltsin's Role in the 1993 Russian Constitutional Crisis

The impeachment charges against President Boris Yeltsin in 1999 related to his role in the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis

1994: Impeachment Scope Broadened to Executive Deputy Presidents, Public Protector, and Auditor-General

In 1994, the scope of impeachment in South Africa was broadened to include the executive deputy presidents, the public protector, and the Auditor-General.

June 1995: Erik Ninn-Hansen Found Guilty

On June 22, 1995, Erik Ninn-Hansen was found guilty of violating the Danish Ministerial Responsibility Act and received a suspended sentence of four months with one year of probation.

1995: Yeltsin's Launch of First Chechen War

The impeachment charges against President Boris Yeltsin in 1999 related to launching the First Chechen War (1995–96)

1997: Impeachment Scope Includes Members of Certain Commissions

Since 1997, members of certain commissions established by the Constitution of South Africa can also be impeached.

1998: Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton

In 1998, Bill Clinton faced an impeachment trial in the Senate, following his impeachment by the House of Representatives. He was later acquitted by the Senate.

May 1999: European Court of Human Rights Dismissed Complaint

On May 18, 1999, the European Court of Human Rights dismissed Erik Ninn-Hansen's complaint, in which he argued that the Court of Impeachment was not impartial.

1999: Unsuccessful Impeachment Attempt Against Boris Yeltsin

In 1999, members of the State Duma of Russia unsuccessfully attempted to impeach President Boris Yeltsin.

April 2004: Rolandas Paksas Removed from Office by Impeachment

On April 6, 2004, President Rolandas Paksas was removed from office by impeachment after the Constitutional Court of Lithuania found him guilty of violating his oath and the constitution.

2004: Impeachment of Roh Moo-hyun

In 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun was impeached by the National Assembly of South Korea. However, the impeachment was later rejected by the Constitutional Court.

May 2007: First Impeachment of President Traian Băsescu

President Traian Băsescu was impeached by the Parliament in 2007. A referendum was held on 19 May 2007 and a large majority of the electorate voted against removing the president from office.

2008: Gubernatorial Impeachments in the US

From 1789 through 2008, 14 governors in the United States had been impeached, including two who were impeached twice. Seven of these governors were convicted.

July 2012: Second Impeachment of President Traian Băsescu

President Traian Băsescu was impeached for a second time by the Romanian Parliament in July 2012. A referendum was held on 29 July 2012; voters overwhelmingly approved Băsescu's impeachment, but the referendum was invalidated due to low turnout.

2013: Senate Seeks to Impeach President Klaus

In 2013, members of the Senate sought to impeach Czech President Václav Klaus; however, this case was dismissed by the court because his mandate had expired.

2013: Constitutional Change Regarding Impeachment

In 2013, the constitution was changed to allow the impeachment process to be started by at least three-fifths of present senators and approved by at least three-fifths of all members of the Chamber of Deputies within three months; additionally, the President can be impeached for high treason or any serious infringement of the Constitution.

2014: Attempt to Initiate Article 90 Procedure Against Giorgio Napolitano

In 2014, there was an attempt by some members of parliamentary opposition to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 90 against President Giorgio Napolitano.

February 2016: Inger Støjberg Decides on Accommodation Scheme

On February 10, 2016, Inger Støjberg decided that an accommodation scheme should apply without the possibility of exceptions, requiring all asylum-seeking spouses and cohabiting couples where one was a minor aged 15–17 to be separated and accommodated separately in separate asylum centers.

May 2016: Senate Approves Impeachment Trial for Rousseff

On May 12, 2016, after 20 hours of deliberation, the Brazilian Senate approved the admissibility of the impeachment case against President Dilma Rousseff with 55 votes in favor and 22 against, and Vice President Michel Temer was notified to assume the duties of the president pending trial.

2016: Impeachment of Park Geun-hye

In 2016, President Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly of South Korea and later removed from office by the Constitutional Court.

2016: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Became President of Peru

Pedro Pablo Kuczynski became the incumbent President of Peru in 2016.

December 2017: Initiation of First Impeachment Process Against Pedro Pablo Kuczynski

On December 15, 2017, the Congress of Peru initiated the first impeachment process against Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the incumbent President of Peru since 2016.

2018: Number of officials impeached by U.S. House of Representatives

As of 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives had impeached an official 22 times since 1789: four times for presidents, fifteen times for federal judges, twice for a Cabinet secretary, and once for a US senator.

2018: Attempt to Initiate Article 90 Procedure Against Sergio Mattarella

In 2018, there was an attempt by some members of parliamentary opposition to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 90 against President Sergio Mattarella.

2019: Presidential Removal in Latin America

Between 1978 and 2019, ten presidents from seven Latin American countries were removed from office by their national legislatures through impeachment or declarations of incapacity.

2019: First Impeachment trial of Donald Trump

In 2019, Donald Trump faced an impeachment trial in the Senate, following his impeachment by the House of Representatives. He was later acquitted by the Senate.

2019: Senate Proposes to Impeach President Zeman

In 2019, the Czech Senate proposed to impeach President Miloš Zeman, but the Chamber of Deputies did not vote on the issue in time, and the case did not proceed to the Court.

2020: Impeachment Charges in Multiple Countries

From 1990 to 2020, at least 272 impeachment charges were brought against 132 different heads of state in 63 countries.

February 2021: Impeachment of Judge Lim Seong-geun

In February 2021, Judge Lim Seong-geun of the Busan High Court was impeached by the National Assembly for meddling in politically sensitive trials. This was the first impeachment of a judge in Korean history, but the Constitutional Court dismissed the case without ruling on its merits because Judge Lim's term expired.

February 2021: Inger Støjberg Impeached

In February 2021, former Minister for Immigration and Integration Inger Støjberg was impeached after allegedly trying to separate couples in refugee centers in Denmark against Danish and International law.

December 2021: Inger Støjberg Convicted

On December 13, 2021, former Minister for Immigration and Integration Inger Støjberg was convicted by the special Court of Impeachment of illegally separating asylum seeker families and sentenced to 60 days in prison.

2021: Second Impeachment trial of Donald Trump

In 2021, Donald Trump faced a second impeachment trial in the Senate, following his second impeachment by the House of Representatives. He was later acquitted by the Senate.

January 2024: No Impeachment of a President

As of January 2024, no impeachment of a president has ever taken place.

2024: Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol

In 2024, President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Assembly of South Korea following his declaration of martial law, and was later removed from office by the Constitutional Court.