The Democrat-led House of Representatives on Wednesday voted largely along party lines to pass the rules for the historic debate and vote on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump scheduled on Wednesday.
The rules, approved by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday night, were passed in a 228-197 vote largely along party lines after a polarized debate. Two Democrats, Collin Peterson from northern state Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew from eastern state New Jersey, joint Republicans to vote in negative.
Following the procedural vote on the rules, the House has begun debate on the articles of impeachment against Trump.
Under the rules, the House floor debate on the articles of impeachment will last six hours equally divided between Democrats and Republicans.
The rules also allow for a resolution appointing and authorizing impeachment managers for the Senate trial to be introduced on Wednesday, if the House votes to impeach the president.
The impeachment debate will lead to the votes on the articles of impeachment late on Wednesday. Trump is poised to become only the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.
Work will get "done by the end of the day," said House Majority leader Steny Hoyer, a Democrat from Maryland State, as the House opened on Wednesday morning.
