Removal of Presidents

Constitutions establishing presidential and semi-presidential systems of government are characterized by the parallel popular legitimacy of the legislature and the president.

Presidents in such systems ordinarily serve a guaranteed fixed term of office. Nevertheless, many constitutions in presidential and semi-presidential systems of government provide exceptional grounds and procedures through which a president may be removed before the end of their term. The grounds for and process of presidential removal are complex and can be contentious, often involving both legal and political considerations.

This Primer seeks to inform and aid decisions on the constitutional design of presidential removal processes through a comparative discussion of the diverse set of rules for presidential removal.