--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The plain text of the Constitution is…" description: "\"The plain text of the Constitution is clear. It only permits impeachment and conviction of 'The President' and requires that the Chief Justice preside ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-plain-text-of-the-constitution-is-cl_1173230.jpg" --- # The plain text of the Constitution is clear. It only… ![“The plain text of the Constitution is clear. It only permits impeachment and conviction of 'The President' and requires that the Chief Justice preside when the President is tried.” quote by Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-plain-text-of-the-constitution-is-cl_1173230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-plain-text-of-the-constitution-is-cl_1173230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/bill-hagerty-5448_constitution_the-plain-text-of-the-constitution-is-cl_1173230.jpg) > “The plain text of the Constitution is clear. It only permits impeachment and conviction of 'The President' and requires that the Chief Justice preside when the President is tried.” [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Constitution’s text limits impeachment to the President and mandates the Chief Justice’s role. **In simple terms:** Constitution allows impeachment of President, overseen by Chief Justice. Key Takeaway Recognize constitutional constraints on power. Themes law government constitution Mood formal serious Type legal political When to use this quote - legal analysis - civic education - policy debate Key Concepts constitutional law separation of powers Questions to Reflect On - What implications does this have for future impeachments? - How does this shape executive accountability? A Different Perspective Interpretations can vary; political context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-clear-351696/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Preside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-preside-3409697/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Preside President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preside-president-3409698/) [President Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-requires-734032/) [Text Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/text-constitution-3409696/) ## Related quotes > [As the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial departments of the United States are co-ordinate, and each equally bound to support the Constitution, it follows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/as-the-legislative-executive-and-judicial-departments-of-the-united/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [A lot of the things that Trump needs to do to be a popular president requires annoying his biggest fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/a-lot-of-the-things-that-trump-needs-to-do-to-be-a-popular-president/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [The office of president requires the constitution of an athlete, the patience of a mother, the endurance of an early Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-wilson/the-office-of-president-requires-the-constitution-of-an-athlete-the/) [Harold Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-wilson/) > [I do not believe the President requires any additional authorization from the Congress before committing US forces to achieve our objectives in the Gulf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-do-not-believe-the-president-requires-any-additional-authorization/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Bouncing a sitting president requires conscious action, a national decision to redirect the country's course. This cuts against the grain, and that's why incumbents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/bouncing-a-sitting-president-requires-conscious-action-a-national/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [The Constitution is very clear: Congress has sole discretion over defining who is and who isn't a citizen and how you become one. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-constitution-is-very-clear-congress-has-sole-discretion-over/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The United States Constitution is clear. 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Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-second-amendment-to-our-constitution-is-clear-the-right-of-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The Iraqi constitution is clear in two articles: one says that Iraq is united, and the second one prevents any legislation or acts that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haider-al-abadi/the-iraqi-constitution-is-clear-in-two-articles-one-says-that-iraq-is/) [Haider al-Abadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haider-al-abadi/) > [The constitution is very clear as to how and when the president hands over power. He can only hand power over to an elected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-kabila/the-constitution-is-very-clear-as-to-how-and-when-the-president-hands/) [Joseph Kabila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-kabila/) > [Marriage in our Constitution is very clear that it's a man marrying a woman, largely with a view to having a natural family, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/marriage-in-our-constitution-is-very-clear-that-it-s-a-man-marrying-a/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [I don't believe there is a separation of church and state. I think the Constitution is very clear. The only separation is that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-don-t-believe-there-is-a-separation-of-church-and-state-i-think-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) ## More by Bill Hagerty > [It is deeply concerning to learn that Linda Thomas-Greenfield repeatedly praised autocratic China's aggressive and troubling expansion into Africa during a 2019 speech at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/it-is-deeply-concerning-to-learn-that-linda-thomas-greenfield/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [As the former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I dealt on a daily basis with China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-the-former-u-s-ambassador-to-japan-i-dealt-on-a-daily-basis-with/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [Local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement jeopardize the safety of American communities and put our officers at greater risk of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/local-jurisdictions-that-refuse-to-cooperate-with-federal-law/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The Democrats have a plan, their plan is to humiliate and embarrass the Republican voters that supported President Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-democrats-have-a-plan-their-plan-is-to-humiliate-and-embarrass/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The Trump Administration kept its promise to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, the eternal and indivisible capital of the Jewish State of Israel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-trump-administration-kept-its-promise-to-move-the-u-s-embassy-to/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [Telephone companies do not shut off your phone line based on what political views you express during calls. The same logic should apply today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/telephone-companies-do-not-shut-off-your-phone-line-based-on-what/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The model of the Abraham Accords between Israel and the Arab world serves as a powerful reminder that diplomacy is not an end itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-model-of-the-abraham-accords-between-israel-and-the-arab-world/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [I was fortunate to benefit from Secretary Shultz's advice and counsel when I served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/i-was-fortunate-to-benefit-from-secretary-shultz-s-advice-and-counsel/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [As the U.S. ambassador to Japan, I saw firsthand how oppressive regimes in North Korea, Russia, and China attempted to erase history; it's part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-the-u-s-ambassador-to-japan-i-saw-firsthand-how-oppressive-regimes/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [We became energy independent under President Trump. It is strong for our economy, strong for our national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/we-became-energy-independent-under-president-trump-it-is-strong-for/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The United States cannot fall victim again to Tehran's blackmail, bribery, and extortion by giving into its demands for sanctions relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-united-states-cannot-fall-victim-again-to-tehran-s-blackmail/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The United States must continue efforts to lead the world in holding accountable the Chinese Communist Party for all of its predatory and threatening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-united-states-must-continue-efforts-to-lead-the-world-in-holding/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [The criminal elements here in America are thriving under the Biden Administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/the-criminal-elements-here-in-america-are-thriving-under-the-biden/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [As long as the Biden administration fails to see and speak to the difference between our allies and terrorists, our adversaries will continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-long-as-the-biden-administration-fails-to-see-and-speak-to-the/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [Democrats would pull the ladder from aspiring Americans and create a permanent status of government-run mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/democrats-would-pull-the-ladder-from-aspiring-americans-and-create-a/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) [Explore all 100 Bill Hagerty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. 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