civil officer

civil officer
    n 1: a person who exercises authority over civilian affairs
         [syn: {civil authority}, {civil officer}]
    

CIVIL OFFICER. The constitution of the United States, art. 2, s. 4, 
provides, that the president, vice-president, and civil officers of the 
United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and 
conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. By 
this term are included all officers of the United States who hold their 
appointments under the national government, whether their duties are 
executive or judicial, in the highest or the lowest departments; of the 
government, with the exception of officers of the army and navy. Rawle on 
the Const. 213; 2 Story, Const. Sec. 790; a senator of the United States, it 
was decided, was not a civil officer, within the meaning of this clause in 
the constitution. Senate Journals, 10th January, 1799; 4 Tuck. Bl. Com. 
Appx. 57, 58; Rawle, Const. 213; Serg. on Const. Law, 376; Story, Const. 
Sec. 791.