Who has the power to impeach federal officials?

The power to impeach federal officials, including the President, is vested in the House of Representatives. This is a critical function of Congress established in the U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article I, Section 2. The process begins with the House conducting an investigation, and if sufficient grounds are found, members may draft articles of impeachment. A simple majority vote in the House is all that's needed to impeach an official, which signifies that the official is formally charged with wrongdoing. After impeachment, the case is then sent to the Senate, which has the authority to conduct a trial and ultimately decide whether to remove the official from office.

In this context, the roles of the other entities are distinct and do not involve the power to initiate impeachment. The Senate does participate in the impeachment process, but it serves as the trial body rather than the one that brings the charges. The Supreme Court oversees the interpretation of laws but does not have involvement in the impeachment process itself. The President does not hold any power in impeachment proceedings, as this would conflict with the principle of checks and balances that governs the operations of the federal government. Thus, it is the House of Representatives that holds the significant role in initiating impeachment.