What is required to impeach a president in the United States?

Impeaching a president in the United States is a complex process defined by the Constitution. To initiate impeachment, the House of Representatives must bring charges, known as articles of impeachment, against the president. A simple majority vote in the House is required to approve these charges, which leads to the impeachment of the president.

Once the House votes to impeach, the process moves to the Senate, where a trial is conducted to determine whether to remove the president from office. This trial requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate for a conviction and subsequent removal. The distinction between the two chambers is critical; while the House's role is to impeach by a simple majority, the Senate must reach a higher threshold of consensus for any resulting conviction.

Understanding this process highlights why a simple majority in the House is the correct response. The requirement for a two-thirds majority in the Senate is essential for conviction, but it is not part of the initial impeachment process carried out by the House. The process does not involve state legislatures in impeachment, which clarifies why that option is also not applicable.