RULES, WITNESSES AND PUBLIC ACCESS

WASHINGTON – The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump resumes Tuesday, with senators mapping out how to conduct the proceeding before hearing opening arguments from House Democrats who will prosecute the case and White House lawyers defending the president.

What will happen Tuesday?

When the trial resumes, senators will debate how to conduct the trial, under what is called an organizing resolution. The resolution will detail logistics such as when the trial will start each day and how long each phase will last.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R- Ky., proposed allocating 24 hours to each side to present their case over two session days for each side. Then senators would have 16 hours to pose written questions through Chief Justice John Roberts to both sides. Under his proposal, four hours of debate over whether to subpoena witnesses or documents would come after the opening arguments and questions.

But Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D- N. Y., said he would offer amendments. He said the proposal wouldn't allow House Democrats to admit their evidence into the record and would have arguments continue into "the wee hours of the night" to hide information from the American people.

A 51- vote majority will determine rules for the trial, in a chamber with 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats.

Are any potential rules disputed?

One contentious aspect of the rules will be whether to call witnesses. Democrats want to call at least four witnesses. But some Republicans said they would be unnecessary.

McConnell said he has the votes to delay a decision on witnesses until after hearing opening arguments from House managers and White House lawyers, and after senators submit written questions to both sides.

Schumer has urged subpoenas for four witnesses and three batches of documents.

Is the trial public?

The trial is public but could be closed at times as senators debate rules or the verdict. Votes on rules and the verdict will be public.

Balconies overlooking the chamber will remain open for the public to observe the proceedings.

The trial will be televised by cameras operated by the government.

Find coverage of the trial here and at USATODAY. com.