What does the term "impeachment" refer to?

Impeachment refers specifically to the process through which a government official, including the President, is charged with misconduct while in office. The process begins in the House of Representatives, which has the sole authority to impeach an official by a majority vote. If the House votes to impeach, the process then moves to the Senate, which conducts a trial to determine whether the official should be removed from office. This process serves as a check on executive power, allowing Congress to hold officials accountable for abuses of power or violations of the law.

The other options don’t accurately capture the definition of impeachment. The trial itself is part of the impeachment process but refers to the Senate’s role after impeachment occurs. The approval of laws by Congress pertains to the legislative process rather than impeachment. Lastly, the election campaign process involves how candidates run for office, which is unrelated to the concept of impeachment.