The process was voted in the House of Representatives. 228 deputies voted impeachment, taking into account the accusation of perjury, and 206 voted against, in the case of the same accusation. 221 deputies voted impeachment in the case of alleging obstruction of justice, and 212 against. As the process was voted by a simple majority (that is, half of the plenary plus 1), the impeachment was passed in the House and went on trial in the Senate.
The Senate vote took place on February 12, 1999. As in the House of Representatives, crimes were voted on separately, but approval of the dismissal was not by simple majority, but by 2/3 of the senators (ie 2/3 of 100). The crime of perjury was denied by 45 senators, while 55 wanted the president's conviction. There was therefore no 2/3. The second crime, obstruction of justice, had 50 votes in favor and 50 against. Clinton, therefore, was acquitted of both charges in the Senate and could return to his activities as president and complete the term, which lasted until early 2001.
Bill Clinton was the second president in US history to be impeached and acquitted in the Senate.
