What is "articles of impeachment"

Impeachment \Im*peach"ment\, n. [Cf. F. emp[^e]chement.] The act of impeaching, or the state of being impeached; as:

1. Hindrance; impediment; obstruction. [Obs.]

   Willing to march on to Calais, Without impeachment.
   --Shak.

2. A calling to account; arraignment; especially, of a public officer for maladministration.

   The consequence of Coriolanus' impeachment had like to have been fatal to their state.
   --Swift.

3. A calling in question as to purity of motives, rectitude of conduct, credibility, etc.; accusation; reproach; as, an impeachment of motives.
   --Shak.

   Note: In England, it is the privilege or right of the House of Commons to impeach, and the right of the House of Lords to try and determine impeachments. In the United States, it is the right of the House of Representatives to impeach, and of the Senate to try and determine impeachments.

   Articles of impeachment. See under Article.

   Impeachment of waste (Law), restraint from, or accountability for, injury; also, a suit for damages for injury.
   --Abbott.

Article \Ar"ti*cle\, n. [F., fr. L. articulus, dim. of artus joint, akin to Gr. ?, fr. a root ar to join, fit. See Art, n.]

1. A distinct portion of an instrument, discourse, literary work, or any other writing, consisting of two or more particulars, or treating of various topics; as, an article in the Constitution. Hence: A clause in a contract, system of regulations, treaty, or the like; a term, condition, or stipulation in a contract; a concise statement; as, articles of agreement.

2. A literary composition, forming an independent portion of a magazine, newspaper, or cyclopedia.

3. Subject; matter; concern; distinct. [Obs.]

   A very great revolution that happened in this article of good breeding.
   --Addison.

   This last article will hardly be believed.
   --De Foe.

4. A distinct part. ``Upon each article of human duty.''
   --Paley. ``Each article of time.''
   --Habington.

   The articles which compose the blood.
   --E. Darwin.

5. A particular one of various things; as, an article of merchandise; salt is a necessary article.

   They would fight not for articles of faith, but for articles of food.
   --Landor.

6. Precise point of time; moment. [Obs. or Archaic]

   This fatal news coming to Hick's Hall upon the article of my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice.
   --Evelyn.

7. (Gram.) One of the three words, a, an, the, used before nouns to limit or define their application. A (or an) is called the indefinite article, the the definite article.

8. (Zo["o]l.) One of the segments of an articulated appendage.

   Articles of Confederation, the compact which was first made by the original thirteen States of the United States. They were adopted March 1, 1781, and remained the supreme law until March, 178

9. Articles of impeachment, an instrument which, in cases of impeachment, performs the same office which an indictment does in a common criminal case.

   Articles of war, rules and regulations, fixed by law, for the better government of the army.

   In the article of death [L. in articulo mortis], at the moment of death; in the dying struggle.

   Lords of the articles (Scot. Hist.), a standing committee of the Scottish Parliament to whom was intrusted the drafting and preparation of the acts, or bills for laws.

   The Thirty-nine Articles, statements (thirty-nine in number) of the tenets held by the Church of England.

The articles of impeachment are the set of charges drafted against a public official to initiate the impeachment process. The articles of impeachment do not result in the removal of the official, but instead require the enacting body to take further action, such as bringing the articles to a vote before the full body.

In the United States, the articles of impeachment are drafted by the House of Representatives for cases involving federal officials. Once drafted, a supermajority of the United States Senate is required to convict based on the articles.