CIVIL OFFICER - The Constitution
of the United States, Art. 2, S. 4, provides, that
the president, vice-president, and civil officers
of the United States, shall be removed from office
on impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribery,
or other high crimes and misdemeanors. By this term
are included all officers of the United States who
hold their appointments under the national government,
whether their duties are executive or judicial, in
the highest or the lowest departments of the government,
with the exception of officers of the army and navy.
A senator of the United States, it was once decided,
was not a civil officer, within the meaning of this
clause in the Constitution.
