--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finally, the Framers stressed that the…" description: "\"“Finally, the Framers stressed that the impeachment remedy was a vital congressional check on the executive branch as a whole, not just on the presiden..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/andrew-mccarthy-4162_executive-branch_finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-im_1377530.png" --- # Finally, the Framers stressed that the impeachment remedy… ![“Finally, the Framers stressed that the impeachment remedy was a vital congressional check on the executive branch as a whole, not just on the president’s personal compliance with constitutional norms.” quote by Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/andrew-mccarthy-4162_executive-branch_finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-im_1377530.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/andrew-mccarthy-4162_executive-branch_finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-im_1377530.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/andrew-mccarthy-4162_executive-branch_finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-im_1377530.png) > ““Finally, the Framers stressed that the impeachment remedy was a vital congressional check on the executive branch as a whole, not just on the president’s personal compliance with constitutional norms.”” [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The framers designed impeachment as a broad check on the executive, not merely a tool against presidential misconduct. **In simple terms:** Impeachment checks all executive power. Key Takeaway Use impeachment to uphold constitutional balance. Themes government checks and balances constitution Mood serious reflective Type political historical When to use this quote - Congressional hearings - constitutional crises - executive misconduct - public accountability Key Concepts federalism executive oversight legislative power Questions to Reflect On - How does a broad impeachment power affect executive behavior? - Should impeachment standards differ for presidents vs. other officials? A Different Perspective Impeachment is rarely used, making its deterrent effect uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Executive branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-branch/) [Impeachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impeachment/) ## Related quotes > [Impeachment is not a remedy for private wrongs; its a method of removing someone whose continued presence in office would cause grave danger to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ruff/impeachment-is-not-a-remedy-for-private-wrongs-its-a-method-of/) Charles Ruff > [“The legal grounds for impeachment are vital; without them, the political case for impeachment cannot be built. The primary question, however, is whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-legal-grounds-for-impeachment-are-vital-without-them-the/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“The late political scientist Aaron B. Wildavsky noted that “the power of the purse is the heart of legislative authority and thus an essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-late-political-scientist-aaron-b-wildavsky-noted-that-the-power/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Impeachment, after all, is not a high mountain to climb. The Constitution vests in the House of Representatives “the sole power of impeachment.”1 Currently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/impeachment-after-all-is-not-a-high-mountain-to-climb-the/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Lawmakers who have determined that presidential malfeasance merits impeachment have an obligation to try to persuade Americans that this is so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/lawmakers-who-have-determined-that-presidential-malfeasance-merits/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Nevertheless, lawmakers must also accept that impeachment is innately political.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/nevertheless-lawmakers-must-also-accept-that-impeachment-is-innately/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Unlike the simple majority vote required for the House to approve articles of impeachment, a conviction by a two-thirds supermajority of the Senate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/unlike-the-simple-majority-vote-required-for-the-house-to-approve/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“But to move on impeachment before political support is built, no matter how honorably intended, would look like partisan hackery. It would also be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/but-to-move-on-impeachment-before-political-support-is-built-no/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“The two impeachment articles charged President Clinton with perjury and obstruction of justice.16 The charges satisfied the “high crimes and misdemeanors” threshold, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-two-impeachment-articles-charged-president-clinton-with-perjury/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were adamant that impeachment not reach to errors of judgment, or what Edmund Randolph described as “a willful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-delegates-to-the-constitutional-convention-were-adamant-that/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“We must not fear the word, Rosenkranz aptly insisted. “A check on executive lawlessness is impeachment,” he said. “And if you find the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/we-must-not-fear-the-word-rosenkranz-aptly-insisted-a-check-on/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“As a federal district court in Texas recently ruled, federal law “mandates the initiation of immigration removal proceedings whenever an immigration officer encounters an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/as-a-federal-district-court-in-texas-recently-ruled-federal-law/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Passing articles of impeachment against President Obama in the House at this premature point would have the same effect. There is no public will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/passing-articles-of-impeachment-against-president-obama-in-the-house/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [I do think it's true that a huge amount of the oversight that the White House engages in with respect to the Executive Branch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/i-do-think-it-s-true-that-a-huge-amount-of-the-oversight-that-the/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [ I take the Constitution very seriously. The biggest problems that we're facing right now have to do with \[the president\] trying to bring more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-take-the-constitution-very-seriously-the-biggest-problems-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Andrew McCarthy > [“As was easily foreseeable, the unprovoked military adventure empowered anti-American terrorists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/as-was-easily-foreseeable-the-unprovoked-military-adventure-empowered/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Republicans, as well as Democrats committed to our constitutional framework, should fearlessly marshal the administration’s frauds, obstructions, and violations of law. They should demand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/republicans-as-well-as-democrats-committed-to-our-constitutional/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“In addition to involving the nation in an unauthorized war in Libya that empowered jihadist enemies of the United States, he and his subordinates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/in-addition-to-involving-the-nation-in-an-unauthorized-war-in-libya/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“The president and his subordinates willfully defrauded the American people, including investors in the public securities exchanges, in connection with Solyndra, a solar energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-president-and-his-subordinates-willfully-defrauded-the-american/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Rouhani triumphantly boasted in a tweet that the United States had “surrendered to Iranian nation’s will,” while the regime’s chief negotiator bragged that Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/rouhani-triumphantly-boasted-in-a-tweet-that-the-united-states-had/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Passing articles of impeachment against President Obama in the House at this premature point would have the same effect. There is no public will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/passing-articles-of-impeachment-against-president-obama-in-the-house/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“He and his subordinates have issued a visa to a self-proclaimed member of a formally designated Egyptian terrorist organization in order to enable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/he-and-his-subordinates-have-issued-a-visa-to-a-self-proclaimed/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Willful and repeated violation of the Constitution is the textbook example of high crimes and misdemeanors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/willful-and-repeated-violation-of-the-constitution-is-the-textbook/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Congressional Democrats want the current president to use the enormous raw power vested in his office by Article II to achieve statist transformation. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/congressional-democrats-want-the-current-president-to-use-the/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“With the November election looming and the president’s campaign rhetoric about decimating al-Qaeda becoming laughable, the White House endeavored to defraud the American people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/with-the-november-election-looming-and-the-president-s-campaign/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“He and his subordinates have repeatedly, systematically and willfully withheld from Congress and from the American people information to which they are entitled, despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/he-and-his-subordinates-have-repeatedly-systematically-and-willfully/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Despite being briefed about the ongoing terrorist attack at the Benghazi facility very soon after it began, the president took no meaningful action as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/despite-being-briefed-about-the-ongoing-terrorist-attack-at-the/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [The idea that we cause harm by doing what we perceive to be the right thing, that's another theme that interests me. Because most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-idea-that-we-cause-harm-by-doing-what-we-perceive-to-be-the-right/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [It's embarrassing, isn't it? It took me 15 years to make an 18-minute movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/it-s-embarrassing-isn-t-it-it-took-me-15-years-to-make-an-18-minute/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“As a federal district court in Texas recently ruled, federal law “mandates the initiation of immigration removal proceedings whenever an immigration officer encounters an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/as-a-federal-district-court-in-texas-recently-ruled-federal-law/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) [Explore all 115 Andrew McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) ## More Executive branch quotes > [ I take the Constitution very seriously. The biggest problems that we're facing right now have to do with \[the president\] trying to bring more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-take-the-constitution-very-seriously-the-biggest-problems-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I do think it's true that a huge amount of the oversight that the White House engages in with respect to the Executive Branch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/i-do-think-it-s-true-that-a-huge-amount-of-the-oversight-that-the/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) > [I'm seeing too much power being concentrated in the executive branch, and so our system of government is really in jeopardy, and more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-kasparian/i-m-seeing-too-much-power-being-concentrated-in-the-executive-branch/) [Ana Kasparian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-kasparian/) > [“As a dad, you are Vice President. You are part of the Executive Branch of the family, but you are the partner with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/as-a-dad-you-are-vice-president-you-are-part-of-the-executive-branch/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I have a duty to protect the Executive Branch from legislative encroachment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-have-a-duty-to-protect-the-executive-branch-from-legislative/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The executive branch maneuvered this result deftly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/the-executive-branch-maneuvered-this-result-deftly/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [As a dad, you are the Vice President of the executive branch of parenting. It doesn't matter what your personality is like, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/as-a-dad-you-are-the-vice-president-of-the-executive-branch-of/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [The constitution supposes, what the History of all Governments demonstrates, that the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-constitution-supposes-what-the-history-of-all-governments/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Congress is a co-equal branch of government, with a long and rich history of standing up to the executive branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sykes/congress-is-a-co-equal-branch-of-government-with-a-long-and-rich/) [Charlie Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sykes/) > [I've been in the legislative branch and now the executive branch and in each case I felt it was important we use our constitutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-engler/i-ve-been-in-the-legislative-branch-and-now-the-executive-branch-and/) [John Engler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-engler/) > [There's a lot of bipartisan rancor, a lot of excessive delegation of legislative power from the legislative branch to the executive branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lee/there-s-a-lot-of-bipartisan-rancor-a-lot-of-excessive-delegation-of/) [Mike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lee/) > [To be at the apex of the executive branch and understand that there are lot of moving pieces and the importance of working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-stefanik/to-be-at-the-apex-of-the-executive-branch-and-understand-that-there/) [Elise Stefanik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-stefanik/) > [The Supreme Court must serve as an independent check on abuses by the executive branch and the protector of our liberties, not a cheerleader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-supreme-court-must-serve-as-an-independent-check-on-abuses-by-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [ Everything is about accountability to the American people, accountability of the executive branch ... \[and\] accountability of the oversight of the Congress ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-rockefeller/everything-is-about-accountability-to-the-american-people/) [Jay Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-rockefeller/) > [“In Maya’s group, the “executive branch,” everyone is talking at once. Maya hangs back. Samantha, tall and plump in a purple T-shirt, takes charge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/in-maya-s-group-the-executive-branch-everyone-is-talking-at-once-maya/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) [Browse all 112 Executive branch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-branch/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Finally, the Framers stressed that the impeachment remedy was a vital congressional check on the executive branch as a whole, not just on the president’s personal compliance with constitutional norms.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew McCarthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-impeachment-remedy-was-a-vital/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Executive branch" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-impeachment-remedy-was-a-vital/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/andrew-mccarthy-4162_executive-branch_finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-im_1377530.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/andrew-mccarthy-4162_executive-branch_finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-im_1377530.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/andrew-mccarthy-4162_executive-branch_finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-im_1377530.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Finally, the Framers stressed that the impeachment remedy was a vital congressional check on the executive…” — Andrew McCarthy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andrew McCarthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Finally, the Framers stressed that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-impeachment-remedy-was-a-vital/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/finally-the-framers-stressed-that-the-impeachment-remedy-was-a-vital/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```