by Barbara Jordan
We know the nature of impeachment. We’ve been talking about it awhile now. It is chiefly designed for the President and his high ministers to somehow be called into account. It is designed to “bridle” the Executive if he engages in excesses. “It is designed as a method of national inquest into the conduct of public men.” The Framers confided in the Congress the power if need be, to remove the President in order to strike a delicate balance between a President swollen with power and grown tyrannical, and preservation of the independence of the Executive.
The nature of impeachment is a narrowly channeled exception to the separation-of-powers maxim; the federal convention of 1787 said that. It limited impeachment to high crimes and misdemeanors and discounted and opposed the term “maladministration.” “It is to be used only for great misdemeanors,” so it was said in the North Carolina ratification convention. And in the Virginia ratification convention: “We do not trust our liberty to a particular branch. We need one branch to check the others.”
Use the passage to answer the question.
Why is the speaker’s use of hyperbole effective in this passage?
(1 point)
Responses
It recalls earlier uses of checks and balances.
It recalls earlier uses of checks and balances.
It underscores the need to impeach the president.
It underscores the need to impeach the president.
It reminds listeners why certain powers belong to the legislature.
It reminds listeners why certain powers belong to the legislature.
It justifies the existence of an independent executive.
It justifies the existence of an independent executive.
1 answer
The correct response is:
It underscores the need to impeach the president.
The speaker, Barbara Jordan, emphasizes the serious nature and purpose of impeachment in order to underscore its importance in maintaining checks on executive power, suggesting that there are circumstances under which accountability is necessary, particularly in relation to the presidency.
