美国有线新闻 CNN 美众议院投票通过弹劾特朗普调查程序（在线收听）

We're getting started with a look at a recent vote in the U.S. House of Representatives concerning President Donald Trump and the issue of impeachment. Late last week, the House voted 232 to 196 to formalize its impeachment inquiry of the president. This was not a vote to impeach President Trump or to formally put him on trial.

This was a vote to make an investigation official to establish the rules for how it will be carried out. And according to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi it was a vote to help lawmakers decide whether to eventually impeach the president. It went mostly along party lines.

Democrats control the House of Representatives. They hold the majority of seats there. And all but two of them voted to move forward with the investigation. The remaining two Democrats joined all House Republicans in voting against having a formal investigation. This is happening because of a controversial phone call that President Trump had in late July with the president of Ukraine.

We explained that call in our September 26th show and you can find it in our archives at CNN10.com. Speaker Pelosi says House Democrats have no choice but to investigate President Trump because they quote "took an oath to protect and defend our democracy and that is what he has made an assault on". The president says he's done nothing wrong and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said last weeks vote shows there's only bipartisan opposition to the inquiry not in favor of it.