Between American and Brazilian Impeachment

There she goes… Jenny is going on about impeachment.

Ok, I confess that I like to think about this topic, but it is not because I am obsessed with it.

It’s because recently, in Brazil, (if do not know me, read my article or remember me: Hi! I am Jennifer and I am Brazilian) we have experienced the impeachment of the first woman President in my country.

She is Dilma Rousseff. She had her mandate revoked on August 31st of 2016. Dilma’s political party was equivalent to democrats in the USA, but her vice was equivalent to republican. Believe it or not! 

Once she was out of her presidential position, Michel Temer, her vice president, became the official president of the country. 

But, wait! You may be questioning yourself “Why was she going through an impeachment process? You have not explained this!” Yeah, you are right!

Summarizing, she had disrespected the budget law by authorizing the opening of credit in disagreement with the limits established by the Federal Senate. She disrespected the law of administrative misconduct that does not permit illegal acts committed by a public agent.

I mentioned this because I want to compare how the process occurs in both of these countries, the USA and Brazil. In Brazil, the President may go through an impeachment process if he commitS one of the seven crimes listed in the constitution.

For example: Undermine the existence of the Union, the internal security of the country, compliance with the laws and the budget law (this law establishes the expenses and income to be maintained next year and it is incumbent upon the president to submit to the national congress the multi annual plan).

In US, the President and the Vice President go through an impeachment process if they commit treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanours. It is not clear in the American Magna Carta which crimes, exactly, though. 

Another thing that is different in comparison between these two countries is that in Brazil, any citizen can ask for a President’s impeachment and it is up to the Chamber of Deputies to receive it or not and vote.

In US, the process can start at the initiative of deputies or the House of Representatives itself. They decide whether to vote or not for impeachment approval, I mean, the formal charge against the president. 

The last thing I would like to mention about the differences between them is that in Brazil we have had two presidents removed for impeachment, while the US has never had one. 

This is because in 1974, Richard Nixon resigned before the impeachment process was considered by the House of Representatives. He was involved at Watergate scandal, but as he resigned first.

The USA has has never had a President removed by this process. I would be proud, aren’t you?

References:

https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-49852208

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_de_Dilma_Rousseff