advice and consent
Senate confirmation power
Advice and consent is a constitutional phrase describing the Senate's role in approving presidential appointments and treaties.
The president nominates candidates for federal judgeships, cabinet positions, and ambassadorships, but these require Senate confirmation—the "consent" part.
The "advice" portion, originally envisioning consultation before nominations, has become largely ceremonial.
The nominee awaits advice and consent from the Senate.
- ConstitutionGoverning principles document
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
- approvalFavorable opinion given
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- lawBinding principle or regulation
assent · ratification · permission · Senate confirmation · floor vote · senate · legislation · sanction · committee hearings · constitutional powers · executive branch · judicial appointments · Federalist Papers · federal appointments · nomination hearings · recess appointments · government accountability · public hearings
- checks and balanceschecks and balances, separation of powers, veto power, impeachment, congressional oversight
- Congress powersspending power, declare war, impeachment, lawmaking, appropriations
- ConstitutionBill of Rights, preamble, articles, U.S. Constitution, Article I
- Judicial Appointmentsjudicial nominee, nomination, nominee, confirmation hearing, confirmation vote
- legislative powerslawmaking, appropriations, impeachment, veto override, war powers
- Senatesenate seat, Senate floor, senior senator, Senate chamber, confirmation hearings
advice and consentabsolute power
Unrestricted governmental control
unilateral action · diktat · executive privilege · decree · autocratic rule
advice and consentrubber stamp
Automatic approval device
fait accompli · snap judgment · recess appointment · going it alone
advice and consentrecess appointment
Executive vacancy fill without confirmation
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