• THIS MORNING:
• Impeachment and the study of politics
• An introduction to the course style and content.
• Class organization and requirements



• THE IMPEACHMENT AND TRIAL OF WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON:
• A case study in political analysis and interpretation
• Impeachment
• Process and constitutional context
• Checks and balances and "high crimes and misdemeanors."
• House impeaches, Senate tries
• Two thirds vote for removal
• Chief Justice presides
• House leaders manage ("prosecute")
• Questions via Chief Justice; comments private; vote ultimately public.
• Allegations.
• Perjury before grand jury convened by Office of Independent Prosecutor (Kenneth Starr).
• Obstruction of justice
• For more information on the impeachment "crisis" go to:
• Impeachment materials

• Interpretations:
• One view: perjury constitutes grounds for removal.
• Reynolds: "Impeachment: Politics By Other Means"
• A brief history lesson:
• 1980 and "Reagan revolution"
• House Republicans in the wilderness 1954 to 1994.
• Clinton wins first term, 1992.
• Special prosecutor appointed by Janet Reno to investigate "Whitewater," White House travel office, and other matters.
• "The Contract With America" 1994
• Newt Gingrich and the Republican "revolution"
• See the class web site for a copy of the "Contract".
• 1995 Clinton on the ropes
• Government closes December 1995
• January to April Clinton rebounds
• Economic expansion
• Dick Morris, soft money, television ads regarding social security and medicare.
• 1996 Clinton wins reelection.
• Republican "revolution" stalls
• House Republicans see an opening.
• Evidence:
• What has and has not been acceptable conduct in the past
• Presidential lies and misbehavior



• THE CLASS - HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SYLLABUS:
• Attendance
• Notes
• E-mail and internet
• Reading
• Clipping file
• Assignments and tests



• NEXT TIME:
• A political system.
• Institutions, structures, historical actors: the "agency" problem.
• A "case" for government: why individual rational behavior leads to collective harm.
• Reading for next time:
• Start There Are No Children Here
• Patterson, We The People, Chapter 1.
• Buy an insurance policy: get May God Have Mercy.

Go to Notes page

Go to American Political System page

Go to H. T. Reynolds page