GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - As Americans make sense of the violent mob attack on the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, calls from political leaders have emerged for action against President Trump.
The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution deals with removing a president from office based on impairment.
"Article 4 of that amendment is the one that people are talking about now and that is what happens when the president isn't in a position to put themselves out of commission even temporarily," explains political science professor John A. Clark of Western Michigan University. "The process involves the Vice President, it involves the members of his cabinet so these are people who are close to the president. It's not the other party these are the president's own people who are making the determination that the president is unable to serve as president."
"In both instances it would seem less likely that we would see President Trump removed at the end of his term but even if that were on board it would require republicans to do it."
But because the 25th amendment won't have a long term impact on Presidents Trump's political career, some experts, like political science professor at Grand Valley State University, Donald Zinman believe that a second impeachment would be the more likely course of action.
"The Senate could convene a trial within a few hours if they were determined enough to do it," he explains. "And a big part of impeachment also is that not only can you remove from office but also you have the option under impeachment to disqualify the defendant from holding future federal office and that is what I think is important."
But with less than two weeks until President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn into office, there's not much time to take action against President Trump. Political expert Doug Koopman doesn't think there is enough time to move forward with Amendment 25 or a second impeachment trial.
"Something like a censure motion from the house and Senate could be quick and make a similar statement," Koppman says. "It has no removal affect but it allows most members of the House and Senate to go on record to say this is not acceptable behavior."
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.