Maddison Farris
Lantern Staff
The impeachment of President Donald Trump is a topic that is demanding the attention of all U.S. citizens. There are not many places that can be visited, in person or online, that do not have ads, opinions or posts regarding the current impeachment of President Trump and the 2020 election.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the L.W. Nixon Library hosted Charles Combs and a generous portion of piping hot Pizza Hut pies for their event “Pizza and Impeachment,” in an effort to educate present students, faculty and community members about the history and process of impeachment. Combs covered the facts of impeachment within the U.S. government and explained how only two presidents, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, have been formally impeached by Congress.
“Treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors” are the sole reasons that a presidential impeachment can possibly be charged, according to the U.S. Constitution. It is possible for a president to face impeachment without being removed from the office. Impeachment can be viewed as a court hearing where if the House of Representatives rules that the president will not be removed, then the president will then return to the normal order of White House functions. Simply because President Trump faces impeachment does not mean that he will be removed from office. Impeachment does not equal removal.
“Take part in your democracy,” Combs said. “The outcome of the 2020 election will raise effects that will pertain to all U.S. citizens, regardless of who becomes our next president.”
Combs also commented on the possibility of conflict in America’s foreseeable future.
“If we end up in a war that we shouldn’t or would rather not, [the newest voting generation] are likely to serve, they are going to live with whatever policies the government enacts, and it’s important to engage in that,” Combs said.
According to Combs, it is important that all students and young adults are sure that they register to vote and take the next election very seriously.
Tim Myers, lead professor of Humanities and Social Science, believes in the importance of students exercising their federal right and privilege to vote.
“I think [students] need to make informed decisions about who they are going to vote for and who is going to run the country,” Myers said. “They need to understand the differences between republicans and democrats and what they stand for because that will impact the future of this nation.”
The outcome of the 2020 elections has many possible turnouts. It cannot be said for sure who will be the next president of the United States, but that decision is, in part, presented to citizens in the form of a ballot box. According to the U.S. Constitution and various amendments, American citizens are given the privilege to weigh in their opinion by exercising their free right to vote. This is their time to speak and be heard. If they do not vote, they do not give themselves the right to criticize the outcome of the election, according to Myers.
“You get what you pay for,” Myers said. “In other words, if you don’t vote, and you think ‘well, I don’t like this person’ and you didn’t vote for them or against them, then you don’t have a right to complain,”
It can be understood that making educated decisions, reliable sources and grounded knowledge can go a long way in being a productive American citizen. As the impeachment of President Trump continues, voters should be aware of White House events as well as who they believe will be the best fit to run this country for the next four years.