Brown University

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Nancy Pelosi used a ballpoint pen, engraved with your name to the indictment

The U.S. Senate to write a formal article on impeachment from The House on Thursday.

The whole process was more colorful and more dramatic than your standard conference fare.

speaker Nancy Pelosi , several pens to put their signatures on the impeachment bill - that sucks, the Republicans - in front of The House to present the Democrats and The House clerk formally marched through The Senate chamber, the article.

And The Sergeant -at-Arms kicked off proceedings on Thursday with a medieval sound threatening: "Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, all persons are commanded to keep silent, on pain of imprisonment. "

It is rare to see so much pomp and circumstance in the US Congress, which, in General, far less ceremonial traditions as the British Parliament.

Here is a breakdown of what happened, and what it means.

A funny signature", with many ball-pen

Ms Pelosi and her team a engrossment ceremony held on Wednesday evening, where they signed The Final indictment. This is The Last formal step The House takes before he hands over the impeachment process to The Senate .

It took some Time , because they joked a different pen for each stroke, "she makes a funny signature. "

Reporter photos snapped of the four subjects, the engraved eight pins, with Ms Pelosi the name, before signing.

This is actually a long-standing Tradition - since President Franklin D. Roosevelt, presidents have often used several pens to sign high-profile pieces of legislation, so they can be offered as a souvenir and historical memorabilia.

President, Donald Trump joked that he ran out of the pen, as he signed legislation that on its inauguration day - while President Barack Obama used 22 pens to sign the Affordable care Act into law.

Ms Pelosi, has given the criticism for the use of multiple pens to sign the impeachment articles that say to the Republican critics, it seemed to celebrate what should be, was a gloomy moment.

your Office , however, argues that while the indictment is "tragic. it is undeniable, the historical, when The Constitution and the balance of power reasserts itself. "

Back in 1998, Republican senators also pens kept as souvenirs, which are issued after the signing of oaths for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton , even if these pins had a typo on the text of the inscription, and had to restart.

A law enforcement walk - twice

the Following Wednesday the signing, The House clerk went over The Capitol , under the legendary rotunda, deliver both of the indictment to The Senate .

House clerk Cheryl Johnson and Sergeant of Arms Paul Irving led Wednesday procession

she was accompanied by The House Sergeant-at-Arms , and the seven impeachment managers.

It was a rare moment when the members of The House literally separated to work over in The Senate , the two chambers.

The Tradition of The Procession is intended to go back to the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in 1868. The legislator, also from the same walk in the year 1998, in the implementation of the article of impeachment of President Bill Clinton .

"ceremony, and priorities play a role in strengthening the way in the legislative bodies function," Prof Richard Arenberg, an expert in congressional History and procedures at Brown University , and a former Capitol Hill staffer, give told the BBC.

The Procession "symbolizes the transfer of the solemn document issued by The House of representatives, and consent by The Senate ".

the train came to The Senate chamber, The House clerk informed The Senate that The House had adopted a resolution, the appointment of the charge Manager, and The President of The Senate , Republican Charles E Grassley replied: "The Message is received".

House Democrats had to hike bat again on Thursday, as Senate majority leader Mitch Mcconnell , to return to the formal indictment, then.

'Hear ye, hear ye'

you normally do not listen to medieval England, in The Senate .

But on Thursday, The Sergeant - of-Arms of The Senate 's chief law enforcement officer-the start of the procedure by announcing: "Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, all persons are commanded to silence on pain of imprisonment, while The House of representatives for The Senate of the United States bill of indictment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States ".

Why had he sounded so formal? Most of The Words he used, actually, in the developed in the years of 1868 and The Last revision in the year 1986.

"This is only the third impeachment in U.S. History - a lot of the procedure through two centuries, without routine use, so you can seem archaic," Prof Arenberg says.

Nevertheless, he adds, the traditions and ceremonies that you have developed, will help underscore the "seriousness" and "sober " gravity", which it will take place.

signing The Oath book

The Senate impeachment rules also specify that, if The President or the Vice-President is accused, The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should preside over The Trial .

Chief Justice Roberts formally Sworn In before the acceptance of oaths for all of the 100 senators, who also had to sign an oath book, which is kept in The National archives.

Prof Arenberg says, it is important that you are required to have a separate oath.

"This is an additional oath before your oath of Office - it is to emphasise that this is different from the partisan and legislative process that you go through in the rule. Also about The Oath on The Constitution when they take Office , they need to offer, in addition, swear impartial justice in this trial. "

The Senate then a formal charge from The President Trump issued by the accusations against him.

The study is to reconvene is set on Tuesday.

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nancy pelosi, united states senate, impeachment of donald trump

Source of news: bbc.com