Who holds the responsibility for trying impeached officials?

The Senate is responsible for trying impeached officials, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. When the House of Representatives impeaches an official, it effectively brings charges against that official. These charges then go to the Senate, which conducts a trial to determine whether to convict and remove the official from office. A two-thirds majority in the Senate is required for conviction, thus carrying significant power in this process.

The role of the Senate is crucial because it functions like a jury in an impeachment trial. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over presidential impeachments in the Senate, but the actual decision-making rests with the Senators. This system of checks and balances is designed to prevent the misuse of power by maintaining a clear distinction between the legislative body that initiates impeachment and the one that holds the trial. The House of Representatives, while it initiates impeachment, does not have the power to conduct the trial, and neither the Supreme Court nor the President has any role in this process.