Legislative Politics-Impeachment Explain impeachment and the process for impeachment; –Discuss the Founders’ rationale for creating impeachment, for stating the grounds for impeachment as they did, and what they intended by “high crimes and misdemeanors.” When can Congress, and when should Congress use this power? Does it have to be for literal crimes, or can a president or other official be impeached for abusing the powers of office in a way that threatens the country, even if it isn’t literally a crime? Should Congress automatically move for impeachment if the president or other official has committed a crime? What harms did the founders intend to prevent by creating the impeachment mechanism?