What Happens Next: The Process After Impeachment

As the House of Representatives moves forward with impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump, many Americans are wondering about the next steps in this constitutional process. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

Senate Trial Preparation: Once the House formally votes to impeach, they will appoint "managers" who will act as prosecutors in the Senate trial. These managers will prepare their case, gathering evidence and planning their presentations.

Senate Trial Rules: The Senate must establish the specific rules for the trial, including how long each side will have to present their case, whether witnesses will be called, and other procedural matters. This requires a simple majority vote.

The Trial: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will preside over the trial. Both the House managers and the President's defense team will present their cases, potentially calling witnesses and introducing evidence. Senators serve as the jury.

Deliberation: After hearing both sides, senators will deliberate, either in private or public sessions. Unlike a criminal trial, there is no standard of "beyond reasonable doubt" - senators make their decision based on their own interpretation of the evidence.

Vote: A two-thirds majority (67 senators) is required to convict. If Trump is convicted, the Senate could hold an additional vote to disqualify him from holding future federal office, which would require only a simple majority.

Potential Outcomes: If convicted, Trump would be barred from receiving post-presidential benefits under the Former Presidents Act and potentially disqualified from holding future office. If acquitted, there would be no formal consequences, though political and historical repercussions would remain.

Constitutional law expert Professor Alan Mitchell notes: "Regardless of the outcome, this process represents one of the most solemn constitutional remedies available to Congress and will set precedents for generations to come."