Articles of impeachment

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.
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An instrument which, in cases of impeachment, is used, and performs the same purpose as an indictment in a common criminal case. These articles do not usually pursue the strict form and accuracy of an indictment. They are sometimes quite general in the form of the allegations, but always contain, or ought to contain, so much certainty, as to enable the party to put himself on the proper defence, and in case of an acquittal, to avail himself of it, as a bar to another impeachment. Additional articles may, perhaps, be exhibited at any stage of the prosecution.

The answer to articles of impeachment is exempted from observing great strictness of form; and it may contain arguments as well as facts. It is usual to give a full and particular answer to each article of the accusation.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.