What is the role of the Texas House in the impeachment process?

The role of the Texas House in the impeachment process specifically involves the authority to impeach state officials. In this context, impeachment refers to the formal accusation against a state official for misconduct, which is similar to indicting a person in a criminal case.

When the Texas House of Representatives receives a resolution for impeachment, it investigates the allegations and can decide whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with impeachment by a simple majority vote. If the House votes to impeach, the official is then formally charged, which allows the process to move to the Senate for a trial to decide whether to remove the official from office.

This function distinguishes the House from the Senate in the impeachment process, as the Senate’s role is to conduct the trial of the impeached official and ultimately decide on conviction or acquittal. Therefore, understanding that the Texas House solely focuses on the initial step of impeachment is crucial in grasping the overall process of checks and balances within the state’s government framework.