In the United States, certain officials hold positions that provide them with protection from being fired during their terms except for extreme misconduct, typically through a process such as impeachment or specific legal and procedural guidelines. Here are some key examples:
-
Federal Judges: Federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, serve lifetime appointments and can only be removed through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate for "high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
-
U.S. Senators and Representatives: Members of Congress cannot be expelled or removed from office except through a two-thirds vote of their respective chambers (the House of Representatives or the Senate).
-
Executive Officials (Cabinet Members, for example): While Cabinet members can be dismissed by the President, they cannot be removed by Congress without formal processes, which typically require specific reasons related to misconduct or failure to perform their duties.
-
Independent Regulatory Commission Members: Members of independent agencies, such as the Federal Reserve Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission, generally serve fixed terms and can only be removed for cause, which implies serious misconduct or failure to perform their official duties.
These protections are intended to ensure independence from political pressures and to create stability within essential government functions.