tempts of ParliamentÆs prerogativesàthese categories may be taken to outline the boundaries of the phrase æhigh crimes and misdemeanorsÆ at the time the [U.S.] Constitution was adopted.ö
The impeachment provision made its way into the U.S. Constitution with little debate. The Constitutional Convention focused mainly on the procedures for impeachment, but the framers, apparently in agreement, had little discussion about what would constitute ôimpeachable offenses.ö This lack of debate extended to the ratification process and the Federalist Papers, where the topic barely came up.
At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the framersÆ deep distrust of the King prompted numerous calls for a weak executive branch, subservient to the legislative branch. Once it became clear that too much control would defeat the tripartite system of government, the framers looked for ways to limit the executive branch. What better check than impeachment.
Several proposals were floated in the late spring of 1787. Edm
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