Presidential Nominations

The Constitution provides that the president appoints officers of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Most presidential appointees for thousands of government positions are confirmed routinely by the Senate. When necessary, however, nominees are subject to Senate investigations and hearings that are carried out by the appropriate committee. For example, judicial nominations are referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.The committee considering a nomination can report the nomination to the Senate favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation, or it can choose to take no action at all.

Once the nomination is reported out of committee, senators will then vote to approve, reject, or recommit (send back to the committee) the nomination. However, nominations can be filibustered if fewer than sixty senators support the motion to invoke cloture.

NOMINATIONS AT A GLANCE

• Senate provides advice and consent on Presidential nominations
• Some nominations require committee hearings
• Senators will vote on nominations reported out of committee

LEGISLATION

There are four types of legislation: bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions. [MORE]

APPROPRIATIONS

Congress must pass spending bills based on the president's recommendations and Congressional priorities. [MORE]