Senate Confirmation

Written by Jonathan Milner

Definition

The Senate's power under Article II, Section 2 to give "advice and consent" on the president's nominations for federal judges, ambassadors, and top executive officials. Nominees are confirmed by a simple majority vote.

Example

The Senate eliminated the filibuster for most nominations in 2013 and for Supreme Court nominations in 2017, so a majority can now confirm nominees without 60 votes.

 

Questions

  1. Define Senate confirmation and identify where it appears in the Constitution.

  2. Explain how Senate confirmation is an example of checks and balances.

  3. Describe the role of the Senate Judiciary Committee in confirming judges.

  4. Explain how the end of the filibuster for nominations changed the confirmation process.

  5. Explain how divided government can affect confirmations.

  6. Identify three kinds of officials who need Senate confirmation.

  7. Describe why Supreme Court confirmations get so much public attention.

  8. Should the Senate defer to the president's choices or closely question them? Explain.

  9. What emoji would do a good job of expressing the concept Senate confirmation?

  10. Translate Senate confirmation into plain English.

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw Senate confirmation! Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

Further Review

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GoPo Glossary

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
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