Federalist Papers John S.) Federalist

Federalist Papers

John S.)

Federalist Papers 65 & 79 and Standard for Impeaching a President

According to Federalist Paper 65, the Senate should have the power to impeach the President. Paper 65 clearly states that "the remaining powers which the plan of the convention allots to the Senate," there shall exist "their judicial character as a court for the trial of impeachments" (Federalist Paper 65). Clearly indicating the Senate's role as a judiciary body for impeaching, it also stipulates the difficult proposition of giving this power. Furthermore, the problems which require impeachment are those which "relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself" (Federalist Paper 65). This shows that the standard for impeaching a President is by the Senate, and for political problems which are harmful to society.

There exists a level of trust between elected officials and the public, and this trust is violated, then impeachment becomes a desirable outcome.

Federalist Paper 79 also comments on the impeachment of the President indirectly, and that is that by "the general course of human nature, a power over a man's subsistence amounts to a power over his will" (Federalist Paper 79). This means, that controlling the pay of the President, who is forced to be elected every four years, control is held over the President. Federalist Paper 79, in a way, compares the judge to the President, as the judge stays in office up to a certain age (in this instance 60 is specified for the state of New York). The judges stay in office for a continued period until the end of the "with the permanent tenure of their offices" and this allows for greater independence in their actions. This is unlike the President, who relies on reelections and his payment from the legislature. The standards for a President to be impeached are much greater, and he or she should have to face repercussions even during his or tenure in office. Thus the standard for impeaching the President should differ than that of a judge, and that judges should not be involved with the impeachment of the president.