A House minority that launches a campaign to impeach a president or administration official often does so to inform voters, call attention to misconduct, or attract attention.
Most minority party impeachment talk goes nowhere because the minority party doesn’t have the votes to do anything. In the House, it is pure and simple majority rule. There is no filibuster or 60-vote rule, like in the Senate.
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In the House, the Speaker has overwhelming control over what is debated, so if the party with the majority also has the presidency, and almost universal control.
Minority party supporters are frustrated and demanding their party do something, but House rules make it difficult for those short of votes to do much.
This reality explains why so many MPs resign rather than serve in the minority.
Being a minority in the House means members face all the criticism and pressure without any power.
When a majority in the House is incompetent, small, or both, opportunities arise for the minority, more than most ever had the chance.
The situation surrounding the potential impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is shaping up to be one of those moments.
On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) provided insight into how Democrats will go about impeaching Noem.
Mike Johnson’s math problem is that the Republican majority in the House of Representatives currently stands at 218 votes. Johnson cannot afford to lose a single vote on any issue.
If pressure continues to mount for Noem to go and Trump refuses to fire her, House Republicans will be expected to support an immigration policy that is deeply unpopular with the majority of Americans, and for a Republican majority clinging to life, it is only a matter of time before House Republicans abandon ship and throw Secretary Noem under the bus.
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