I thought that once a person was impeached he could no longer hold public office. So why was Alcee Hastings, after he was impeached as a federal judge in Florida, allowed to run for the House of Representatives? Orlando, Florida - 5/3/00

Not only did he run, he won -- three times. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) is now serving out his sixth year as the Representative of the 23rd district of Florida. Since 1993, Hastings has served as a Member of Congress in the very body that voted to impeach him in 1989.

The Constitution permits the Senate, upon having voted to convict an official on Articles of Impeachment, to take an additional step. While removal from office follows a vote to convict, the Senate is also given the discretion to go beyond removal and vote for "disqualification" -- to bar the official from ever again holding "any Office of honor, Trust, or Profit under the United States." (Article 1, sec.3).

In the Hastings case, the Senate chose not to take this additional optional step. Judge Hastings was convicted on two Articles of Impeachment: perjury and conspiracy to obtain a bribe. He was removed from office, but he was not barred from seeking another elected position.