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StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
10. Yes and no
Fri Jul 26, 2019, 10:26 AM
Jul 2019

The standard way for an impeachment inquiry to start is for the House of Representatives to vote to authorize the Judiciary Committee to begin an inquiry. This would be initiated with an impeachment inquiry resolution introduced on the floor by any Member, which would immediately be referred to the Judiciary Committee, where it would be "marked up" (essentially amended/edited, if necessary), voted on by the Committee, and then referred back to the floor for a vote by the full House. If a majority of Members vote yes, the Judiciary Committee would begin hearings and other proceedings related to impeachment.

That would be the normal procedure. However, it is also possible for the Judiciary Committee chairman to begin an inquiry in committee without first getting the full House approval. However, that would be an unusual course of action taken only under extraordinary circumstances. At this point, I think it unlikely that Nadler would unilaterally begin an inquiry without House approval BUT I see a scenario where that could take place:

If it gets to the point that a critical mass of Members strongly support impeachment and they are very close to a majority, but they just can't quite get to the 218 needed to approve a resolution to start the inquiry AND if Pelosi and Nadler believe that they will be able to convince that handful of recalcitrant Members to vote to impeach AFTER more evidence comes out in hearings, it's possible that Nadler would start proceedings in Committee without a House vote.

Not enough votes is what I keep hearing but I think Nancy could persuade enough Autumn Jul 2019 #1
maybe not enough votes now, at the beginning of the process ProfessorPlum Jul 2019 #2
I would think that any committee chair could initiate the hearings but I think they would look to Autumn Jul 2019 #3
I don't think so, otherwise why did they hold the vote last week? sweetloukillbot Jul 2019 #6
This may be kind of in the weeds, but StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #16
There are actually two separate votes StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #12
I don't believe that there aren't enough votes -Look at the list of Democrats that haven't announced Pachamama Jul 2019 #36
Some good information to educate yourself. SouthernProgressive Jul 2019 #4
firewall, can't see it ProfessorPlum Jul 2019 #7
No firewall. SouthernProgressive Jul 2019 #8
thanks, that's a better wikipedia article than the one I was looking at ProfessorPlum Jul 2019 #11
you don't bring something to the floor without the votes...and there is a very real chance Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #27
This also has some good info as to how it might move along. SouthernProgressive Jul 2019 #9
No, they can start hearings that head towards impeachment and have damn near the same uponit7771 Jul 2019 #5
They're doing that now. StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #14
Yep, its starting to look like this. Pelosi has an uphill climb because of not holding BushCo ... uponit7771 Jul 2019 #17
No, they haven't "called off the 2020 elections" - and that will happen ONLY if enough Democrats StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #19
Correct, that's why I type "effectively" ... they don't have enough minerals to call off the ... uponit7771 Jul 2019 #21
If you think "impeachment is about all we got" you're really saying they've called off the election StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #26
... effectively ... yes, I don't see how 2020 is going to be more free and fair than 2016 or 18 uponit7771 Jul 2019 #30
I know. You keep saying that StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #32
How would that be influencing people not to excecise their power to call their reps and demand uponit7771 Jul 2019 #33
He will stonewall impeachment too...he doesn't care about prececdent or laws...and the moderates Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #28
Moderates can do the right thing and keep their seats if there's justificaton for their actions. uponit7771 Jul 2019 #29
Sorry that is completely unrealistic...if impeachment is unpopular and moderates do it anyway... Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #52
Nixon impeachment 40% Trump impeachment 45%, ... the polls are either lying or they're not uponit7771 Jul 2019 #53
He can't stonewall impeachment StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #37
Yes and no StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #10
Thanks ProfessorPlum Jul 2019 #13
Great! StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #15
+1, I wonder if it was like this during beginning of Nixon impeachment process uponit7771 Jul 2019 #18
My recollection is that it was StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #20
Cool, and impeachment became more popular after the process began it looks like. I pray Red Dons uponit7771 Jul 2019 #22
Actually, impeachment became more popular BEFORE the impeachment inquiry was opened StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #23
I was a kid at the time NewJeffCT Jul 2019 #24
Yes - those were the Senate Select Committee hearings in the spring and summer of '73 StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #25
One modification to that FBaggins Jul 2019 #31
I think you're basing this on the Politico story StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #34
On what basis do you believe it's "pure bs"? FBaggins Jul 2019 #40
Here's why StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #41
Not buying it FBaggins Jul 2019 #42
""For example, the impeachment process isn't started by 'drafting articles of impeachment.' We just StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #43
That's circular FBaggins Jul 2019 #45
But they weren't voted on and they didn't pass. That's the thing StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #47
Still think it's BS? FBaggins Jul 2019 #48
What was part of the petition? StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #49
Just what I said in #31 and #40 FBaggins Jul 2019 #50
You don't seem to understand the distinction between the committee "considering Articles" StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #51
From a new Politico piece published this morning: StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #35
I'm well aware that they're making that argument FBaggins Jul 2019 #38
They just went to court today StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #39
Nancy Pelosi Doesn't Have The Votes To Impeach Trump Gothmog Jul 2019 #44
That's a reasonable standard FBaggins Jul 2019 #46
This is one of the reasons today's move was brilliant StarfishSaver Jul 2019 #54
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