⚠️ A solemn false friend… far from an everyday obstacle
At first glance, impeachment might seem to mean empêchement in French: temporary incapacity, obstacle to the exercise of a function, setback. But in Anglo-American legal systems—most notably in the United States—impeachment designates a solemn procedure of formal accusation against a high official (President, federal judge, etc.) by the legislature.
👉 It is not a functional obstacle but a major political and legal act that may lead to destitution.
⚖️ In constitutional law: formal accusation by a parliamentary chamber
Impeachment proceeds in two steps:
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Mise en accusation by the lower chamber (House of Representatives)
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Trial for destitution before the upper chamber (Senate)
This mechanism is usually based on grounds such as high crimes and misdemeanors, a deliberately open-ended legal formula.
Examples:
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The House voted to impeach the President
→ La Chambre des représentants a voté la mise en accusation du Président
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Impeachment does not remove the official from office
→ L’impeachment ne suffit pas à destituer le responsable
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The Senate acquitted the impeached official
→ Le Sénat a acquitté le responsable mis en accusation
👉 It is therefore not a personal or technical empêchement, but a solemn procedure of political accountability.
🧾 Contexts of use
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The U.S. Constitution and some state constitutions
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Accountability of executive or judicial officeholders
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Landmark cases: Nixon, Clinton, Trump…
✅ In summary
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Impeachment = official procédure d’accusation by a parliamentary chamber
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❌ Not to be confused with empêchement, medical impediment, or logistical constraint
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May lead to destitution, but not automatically
📌 TransLex’s Advice
Before translating impeachment, ask yourself:
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Is the text about a high political or judicial official?
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Does it occur in a bicameral institutional framework?
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Does the process follow a two-step path: accusation + trial?
👉 In legal contexts, impeachment = institutional mise en accusation, not a mere empêchement.
❓ FAQ: Translating "impeachment" into French
Can "impeachment" be translated as empêchement?
No, that is the false friend to avoid. Empêchement suggests a temporary incapacity or obstacle, whereas impeachment is a solemn procedure of formal accusation against a high official brought by the legislature.
What is the right French rendering of "impeachment"?
Depending on the stage, use mise en accusation for the act of charging and procédure de destitution for the wider process. "The House voted to impeach the President" becomes la Chambre des représentants a voté la mise en accusation du Président.
How should "high crimes and misdemeanors" be handled?
It is a deliberately open-ended constitutional formula and is best kept recognisable rather than flattened. The translator should preserve its institutional weight, signalling political accountability rather than a personal or logistical empêchement.
