the house of representatives votes to impeach a president, vice president or other civil officer, but the senate serves as judge and jury. the defendant in the trial can be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the senate. only three times has the senate brought impeachment charges against a president still in office. this was in 1868 against andrew johnson, in 1998 against bill clinton, and in 2020 against donald trump. in each case, the president was not convicted and allowed to serve out his term of office.