What is the required vote necessary to convict someone who has been impeached?

The process of impeachment in the United States requires a specific threshold for conviction to ensure a significant level of consensus among lawmakers. According to the Constitution, after the House of Representatives votes to impeach an official, the case is sent to the Senate for trial. To convict the individual being impeached, the Senate must reach a two-thirds majority vote in favor of conviction. This high standard reflects the seriousness of the action of removing a sitting president, vice president, or other federal officials. Requiring two-thirds of the Senate ensures that a substantial portion of the representatives agrees on the necessity of such a drastic measure, protecting the integrity of the office and maintaining a stable government.

In contrast, a simple majority would not be sufficient as it could lead to abrupt and potentially politically motivated removals, while requiring three-quarters or a unanimous vote would be excessively high and could hinder accountability. Therefore, the two-thirds requirement is a balanced approach designed to ensure that such significant actions are taken with adequate support from elected officials.