Hearings likely will begin a few weeks later, after both parties have had a chance to digest results of the balloting and decide what, if any, changes to make in their approaches. A strong showing by Republicans could cause some Democrats in the committee or the full House to show a willingness to reach across party lines on impeachment. A weak showing by the GOP, on the other hand, could cause some Republicans to flinch from impeachment, and spark fresh talk of censure or some other lesser punishment. If there are Republican gains, that's a signal. Nor can the committee predict Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's plans.
Indictments are also a possibility.
In early phases of the impeachment review, Republicans have been eager to make gestures in the direction of the Democrats without compromising on their twin demands for an inquiry unlimited in either time or subject. For their part, Democrats have made clear their disapproval of Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky, at the same time depicting Republicans as conducting a partisan investigation. It's a strategy driven in part by a desire to increase interest in the coming elections among core Democratic voters who might otherwise stay home on Nov. 3. In last week's vote on the House floor, only 31 of 206 Democrats voted for the Republicans' open-ended inquiry after the party's leader, Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt, worked out an alternative plan that satisfied both liberals and conservatives in the caucus. Neither Speaker Newt Gingrich, the man Democrats love to attack, nor Majority Leader Dick Armey spoke on the issue from the floor, while both Gephardt and Democratic Whip David Bonior did.