James Madison Papers

Suspension of Impeached Officials, [14 September] 1787

Suspension of Impeached Officials

[14 September 1787]

Rutledge and Morris proposed that officials under impeachment should be suspended from office until tried and acquitted.

Mr. Madison. The President is made too dependent already on the Legislature by the power of one branch to try him in consequence of an impeachment by the other. This intermediate suspension, will put him in the power of one branch only. They can at any moment, in order to make way for the functions of another who will be more favorable to their views, vote a temporary removal of the existing Magistrate.

Ms (DLC).

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    Madison Papers
    Title
    Suspension of Impeached Officials, [14 September] 1787
    Author
    Madison, James
    Date
    14 September 1787

    Reference

    Cite as
    “Suspension of Impeached Officials, [14 September] 1787,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-10-02-0120. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, vol. 10, 27 May 1787–3 March 1788, ed. Robert A. Rutland, Charles F. Hobson, William M. E. Rachal, and Frederika J. Teute. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1977, pp. 167–168.]