recess appointment
Confirmation-free executive hire
A recess appointment is a presidential appointment made while the U.S.
Senate is in recess, bypassing the normal confirmation process.
The Constitution allows this to fill vacancies temporarily, but the appointee serves only until the end of the next Senate session.
Presidents have used recess appointments to install controversial nominees who might not survive confirmation: The president made a recess appointment to avoid a contentious hearing.
Legislative governing body
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- vacancyUnoccupied space or position
fill · nominee · install · constitutional · advise and consent · adjournment · session · pro forma
Provisional in-between phase
- actingTemporarily holding position
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
- short-termOf limited duration
placeholder · caretaker · pro tem · expiration · holdover · transitory · emergency · fill-in
Inclined toward disagreement
- disputedArgued over, unresolved
- unconstitutionalViolating fundamental law
- litigationLegal dispute process
- challengeTest of ability
objection · opposition · criticism · backlash · questionable · legality · precedent · judicial review
Art of choosing moments
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- tacticPlanned action for advantage
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
calculation · gambit · advantage · expedient · impasse · gridlock · stalemate · brinkmanship
senate
Legislative governing body
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- interimProvisional in-between phase
vacancy · fill · nominee · install · constitutional · advise and consent · adjournment · session · pro forma · intersession
interim
Provisional in-between phase
- actingTemporarily holding position
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
short-term · placeholder · caretaker · pro tem · expiration · holdover · transitory · emergency · fill-in
contentious
Inclined toward disagreement
- disputedArgued over, unresolved
- unconstitutionalViolating fundamental law
- litigationLegal dispute process
challenge · objection · opposition · criticism · backlash · questionable · legality · precedent · judicial review · scrutiny
timing
Art of choosing moments
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- tacticPlanned action for advantage
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
opportunism · calculation · gambit · advantage · expedient · impasse · gridlock · stalemate · brinkmanship · countermove
recess, appointment, recesses, recessed, recessing, appoint, appointed, appointing, appointments