H. Res. 779 (Introduced in House) — To establish prospective standards effective January 20, 2017 defining impeachable “high crimes and misdemeanors” within the meaning of Article II, section 4 as applied to the President of the United States to provide fair warning and evenhandedness in the administration of the impeachment power of the House of Representatives.

Section 1 Definition of Presidential impeachable offenses

The House of Representatives declares that the following Presidential actions shall constitute impeachable “high crimes and misdemeanors” within the meaning of Article II, section 4, which will cause the House to vote an article or articles of impeachment to send to the Senate for trial—

(1)

initiating war without express congressional authorization;

(2)

killing American citizens in the United States or abroad who are not then engaged in active hostilities against the United States without due process (unless the citizen was then under indictment for a felony and the killing was necessary to prevent imminent serious physical danger to third parties);

(3)

failing to superintend subordinates guilty of chronic constitutional abuses;

(4)

expending money in violation of conditions imposed for the expenditure of appropriated funds;

(5)

intentionally lying to Congress to obtain an authorization for war;

(6)

failing to take care that the laws be faithfully executed through signing statements or systematic policies of non-enforcement;

(7)

substituting executive agreements for treaties;

(8)

intentionally lying under oath to a Federal judge or grand jury;

(9)

misusing Federal agencies to advance a partisan political agenda; and

(10)

refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena for documents or testimony issued for a legitimate legislative purpose.

Sec. 2 Effective date

This Resolution shall take effect on January 20, 2017.

Section 1 Definition of Presidential impeachable offenses

Sec. 2 Effective date

Cite this provision

Incoming references