[WhiskeyX]

There is a common myth which claims members of the U.S. Congress in the House of Representatives and the Senate are not subject to impeachment under the U.S. Constitution. Much of this myth stems from the very first impeachment and trial conducted by the Congress against U.S. Senator Blount. The controversy then and now revolves around an interpretation of what Article II Section 4 of the Constitution meant by the phrase "all civil Officers of the United States," and whether or not Congrressmen and Senators are civil officers. The Congress which impeached and brought a trial against Senator Blount determined the legislators were indeed civil officers as intended by the U.S. Constitution.

Today, it remains to be seen whether the Constitution's intended power to impeach Members of Congress is to be upheld or unconstitutionally denied.

[Jacquerie]

Excellent post! I knew of the rogue William Blount and his machinations in the southwest, but not of his impeachment and trial.

Yes, if the senate of our newborn republic went beyond Article I Section 5, (Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member) and asked the House to impeach the jerk, it sure sounds like precedent to me.

[Lurking Libertarian]

The House thought Senators could be impeached, but the Senate decided that they couldn’t. Impeachment of members of Congress is unnecessary, because each House has the power to expel a member.

[fulltlt]

Blount County, TN is named after him.

[Verginius Rufus]

It shows that the impeachment process from the beginning has been a Blount instrument.