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Abstract: The issue of who governs Arizona between the filing of articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives and the rendering of the judgment by the Senate sitting as a court of impeachment remains an open question. This question recently arose when Governor Evan Mecham indicated that if impeached, he would not relinquish power unless convicted by the Senate.' However, despite this initial declaration, and despite a failed attempt by Mecham during the impeachment proceedings to have the House of Representatives declare that he was to remain in power pending the impeachment trial, Mecham relinquished his powers to the Secretary of State immediately after the House proffered articles of impeachment against him. A constitutional crisis was thus avoided, for the present at least. However, a constitutional question remains unresolved: does the filing of articles of impeachment in the House suspend the Governor's powers pending trial in the Senate?
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