Who has the authority to impeach federal officials?

The House of Representatives holds the sole authority to impeach federal officials. Impeachment is a constitutional mechanism that allows the legislative branch to remove a sitting president, vice president, or other federal officials for misconduct. This process begins in the House, where articles of impeachment are drafted, debated, and voted on. A simple majority vote is required to impeach.

Once the House has impeached an official, the process moves to the Senate, which conducts a trial to determine whether the official should be removed from office. It is essential to understand that while the Senate plays a crucial role in the trial and can ultimately convict and remove the official, the initiation of the impeachment process itself is exclusively within the purview of the House of Representatives.

The other options, such as the Senate, the Supreme Court, and the President, do not possess the authority to initiate impeachment. The Senate's role is to act on the impeachment after the House has voted, the Supreme Court deals with judicial matters, and the President does not hold power to impeach. Thus, the correct answer highlights the specific function and responsibility assigned to the House of Representatives in the impeachment process.