Customer Reviews

The Federal Impeachment Process

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thought provoking and clearily written. While primarily limited in scope to impeachment of federal judges (because more cases exist), the information on the origin of the impeachment provisions in the federal Constitution and the thinking behind the adoption of the provisions by the framers is relevant to issues of presidential impeachment. The reader will find that it is useful as a guide to following the current hearings of the House Judiciary Committee as the members refer to precedents and history.

Prof. Gerhardt includes excellent signposts for further research into the innumerable Constitutional questions raised. The work is a well-constructed combination of law text and book for the general reader with a scholarly turn of mind. Each section is prefaced by a brief statement of its objective of the sort found at the start of scholarly papers. The annotations and bibliography arewell done.

The last major treatments of impeachment were written by Raoul Berger and Charles Black a quarter century ago. Yet, in fact, quite a bit has happened since then: though no Presidents have been impeached (so far), cases involving federal judges in particular have made new law and raised new questions. Gerhardt's book goes into more depth than either Black or Berger, and provides an excellent guide to a wide range of issues. Gerhardt is more a Blackian than a Bergerian -- heavily influenced by structure and relationship, and prone to avoid judicial review of impeachment in most circumstances. An excellent book, and well-written.

The Federal Impeachment Process is described in this book. Fortunately, we have not utilized this method of removal often, so there is not a lot of precident established. While this is one of the three most authoritative sources on the subject, I wish that the author had described in greater detail some of the precidents in English law, the thinking of the framers, contrasts with state impeachment procedures, and a more thorough procedural analysis of impeachment cases brought before the House and Senate ... Next book, maybe? At any rate, this is an excellent book, one certainly worth the used price!

This is a book for the serious political participant and observer. It is technical in its nature although fairly easy to read and comprehend. Gerhardt is straightforward in his purpose: (1) provide readers with a historical perspective on Federal impeachment processes and (2) provide readers with necessary information on just what impeachment means and how the process works. He achieves both purposes very well. Since there is at least a possibility of one Congressional house changing party control in November, and that the new party in control (Democrats) likely will call for the impeachment of George W. Bush, citizens should be well informed on what the process means and how it impacts their nation. This book is an excellent choice for becoming so informed.