impeachment

The formal process of charging a public official (president, judge) with misconduct in office; in the US system, impeachment by the House is followed by a Senate trial.

• impeach/ɪmˈpiːtʃ/(v)弹劾
• impeachable(adj)可弹劾的

• articles of impeachment
• impeachment proceedings
• impeachment trial
• face impeachment
• impeach the president

1. 1.Impeachment does not mean removal — it means formal charges are brought. Of four impeached US presidents (Johnson, Clinton, Trump twice), none were removed by the Senate. (constitutional process)
2. 2.The impeachment of a federal judge for corruption demonstrates that the mechanism applies to all "civil officers," not just the president. (accountability tool)

• indictment/ɪnˈdaɪtmənt/— formal charge, in criminal context
• prosecution/ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən/— legal proceedings against someone

from Old French "empeechier" (to hinder, to impede) — from Latin "impedicare" (to catch, to entangle) — "in-" (in) + "pedica" (a shackle, fetter) — to shackle an official with formal charges