What does "a narrowly channeled exception" mean in this speech?
Here is a speech delivered by Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas on July 25, 1974.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barbarajordanjudiciarystatement.htm

I know it is a powerful speech with far-reaching consequences, but I find its structure a bit confusing.
At the beginning of the 7th paragraph, it says:
The nature of impeachment: a narrowly channeled exception to the separation-of-powers maxim.
At the end of that paragraph, it says:
"We need one branch to check the other," which I believe refers to the separation-of-powers maxim.

If the nature of impeachment is still related to the separation-of-powers maxim, as is shown at the end of the paragraph, why did she say it is a 【narrowly channeled exception 】to the separation-of-powers maxim?
What does "a narrowly channeled exception" mean in this speech?

Question

What does "a narrowly channeled exception" mean in this speech?
Here is a speech delivered by Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas on July 25, 1974.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barbarajordanjudiciarystatement.htm

I know it is a powerful speech with far-reaching consequences, but I find its structure a bit confusing. 
At the beginning of the 7th paragraph, it says:
The nature of impeachment: a narrowly channeled exception to the separation-of-powers maxim. 
At the end of that paragraph, it says:
"We need one branch to check the other," which I believe refers to the separation-of-powers maxim.

If the nature of impeachment is still related to the separation-of-powers maxim, as is shown at the end of the paragraph, why did she say it is a 【narrowly channeled exception 】to the separation-of-powers maxim?
What does "a narrowly channeled exception" mean in this speech?

Answer

A 'narrowly channelled exception,' to something is an exception that can only apply in certain, very specific, circumstances.

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