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Nixon v. United States Background: Article I Section III Clause 6 in the U.S. Constitution states “The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments.” The Framers, with the assumption they indeed meant what the Supreme Court ruled, set our system up to have checks and balances. The Legislature has a check on the Judicial Branch with impeachment. Nixon argued in his case “judicial review is necessary in order to place a check on the Legislature.” The Framers created “safeguards” to make sure the Senate would not abuse their check. The House of Representatives can accuse, and the Senate can try the case. This was put in place so the same person is not being the “bad guy” (the accuser and the judge). Senate Rule XI allows a committee of Senate members to hear the Impeachment trial and bring back the facts of the case to the entire Senate; then for the entire Senate to make a ruling. This rule was the basis for Nixo