What is the role of the Senate during the impeachment process?

The Senate's role during the impeachment process is to conduct the trial for the impeachment. When the House of Representatives has voted to impeach a federal official, typically the President, it is the Senate that holds the trial to determine whether to convict and remove the official from office. During this process, the Senate hears evidence, allows for witness testimonies, and ultimately votes on whether to convict or acquit the individual facing impeachment.

The importance of this role lies in the Senate's responsibility to act as a check on the power of the executive branch. The Constitution grants the Senate the authority to ensure a fair trial, which underscores the principle of due process. The requirement for a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate to convict emphasizes the seriousness of impeachment and the need for a substantial consensus to remove a sitting official from office.

Conducting the trial is distinct from the other options, which pertain to different aspects of the impeachment process. The House is responsible for investigating allegations, drafting the articles of impeachment, and initiating the process, while the Senate's specific function is to adjudicate the case brought before it.