The second Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump will open on Tuesday, just over a month after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol the House has charged him with inciting. Senate leaders agreed on Monday to a plan for an exceptionally speedy proceeding that could conclude in less than half the time of his first.
Here is a broad overview of how the trial will unfold.
Tuesday: Four hours of debate, then a procedural vote.
The first public clash between the president's legal team and the impeachment managers will be over the question of whether the trial is legitimate under the Constitution.
Senators plan to allow up to four hours of debate between the managers and defense team on the question that has loomed over the proceedings — whether a former president can be tried by the Senate for high crimes and misdemeanors. No former president has ever been, but the Senate did try a war secretary in the 1870s after he left office.
If a simple majority of senators agree to move forward, as expected, the main part of the trial begins.
Wednesday to Friday or Sunday: 16 hours of oral arguments per side.
The prosecution and defense each have up to 16 hours to present their cases, starting at noon Wednesday under the terms of the deal reached by Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
