Impeachment in History and Thought

The portrayal of impeachments in textbooks and media often carries with itself several myths and misunderstandings. By analysing, the impeachment’s organic historical development, this chapter seeks to explain the odd and explosive mix of imperfections, pragmatic compromises, and heroic idealism that all impeachments entail. Divided in three sections, the chapter will explain (2.1) the relationship between Parliament and impeachment in Britain, the British Colonies, and modern-day United States, as well as the relationship of impeachment with other historical “ousting mechanisms” such as the deposition of monarchs or the trial of residence in the Spanish America. It explains, moreover, (2.2) the current impact and expectations impeachments inspire in Latin America, particularly in relation to presidentialism. Finally, the last section (2.3) explains how legal scholars and practitioners have dealt with the inflection of law and politics previously and how these discussions may inform a balanced understanding of presidential impeachments.