recess appointments
Senate-bypass executive placements
Recess appointments are presidential appointments made while the U.S.
Senate is in recess, bypassing the normal confirmation process.
The Constitution grants this power to fill vacancies temporarily when the Senate cannot convene to vote.
Such appointments expire at the end of the next Senate session.
Presidents have used recess appointments to install controversial nominees who might face confirmation battles: The president made several recess appointments during the August break.
Something blocking the way
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
polarization · contentious · controversial · circumvent · bypass · workaround · political maneuvering · blocking
Provisional in-between phase
- actingTemporarily holding position
- temporaryLimited in duration
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
fill-in · vacancy · placeholder · pro tem · unconfirmed · nonpermanent · short-term · expiration
Official foreign representative
- federal judgeNational court official
- agency headOrganization's top official
- commissionerAppointed agency leader
- directorOne who leads
public official · judiciary · regulatory agency · executive branch · NLRB · appellate court · district court · department head
Constitutional approval process
- executive powerGovernment's enforcement capacity
- presidential powerHead of state's formal authority
- Senate confirmationLegislative approval of appointments
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
checks and balances · constitutionality · judicial review · intersession · adjournment · legislative branch
obstruction
Something blocking the way
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
partisanship · polarization · contentious · controversial · circumvent · bypass · workaround · political maneuvering · blocking · stalling
interim
Provisional in-between phase
- actingTemporarily holding position
- temporaryLimited in duration
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
stopgap · fill-in · vacancy · placeholder · pro tem · unconfirmed · nonpermanent · short-term · expiration · lapse
ambassador
Official foreign representative
- federal judgeNational court official
- agency headOrganization's top official
- commissionerAppointed agency leader
director · public official · judiciary · regulatory agency · executive branch · NLRB · appellate court · district court · department head
advice and consent
Constitutional approval process
- executive powerGovernment's enforcement capacity
- presidential powerHead of state's formal authority
- Senate confirmationLegislative approval of appointments
separation of powers · checks and balances · constitutionality · judicial review · intersession · adjournment · legislative branch
recess appointmentsSenate confirmation
Legislative approval of appointments
advice and consent · confirmation hearings · congressional approval
recess, recesses, recessed, recessing, recessional, recession, recessionary, recessive, appoint