how many votes needed to confirm u.s. attorney

How many votes are needed to confirm a judicial nominee?

Sep 25, 2014 · He was approved by a 75-21 vote in the Senate, and his nomination and confirmation process lasted for about two months. One rumored replacement is Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, who was linked...

How many senators does it take to confirm a Supreme Court justice?

Dec 08, 2021 · Rollins was confirmed by a vote of 51-50 along party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie. READ MORE: Boston …

How many senators are needed to debate a nomination?

Feb 14, 2019 · The Senate confirmed William Barr to be the next attorney general of the United States in an 54-45 vote. Democrats had criticized Barr for a previous memo he wrote calling special counsel Robert...

Does the Senate have the power to confirm presidential nominations?

Mar 21, 2022 · The Senate rules used to allow unlimited debate (a practice known as filibustering) and to end the debate, it required the votes of 3/5 of the Senate or 60 senators (known as the cloture vote). In April 2017, the Senate changed this rule and lowered the required votes to 51 to end debate on Supreme Court nominations (this is commonly known as "the nuclear option ").

How many votes does the Senate need to approve an appointment?

The Constitution gives the Senate the power to approve, by a two-thirds vote, treaties negotiated by the executive branch.

How many Senate votes are needed to confirm a federal judge?

A simple majority vote is needed for confirmation (there are currently 100 U.S. senators).

What positions require Senate confirmation?

Full-Time PositionsOffice of the Secretary. Secretary. Deputy Secretary. ... Department of the Air Force. Secretary. Under Secretary. ... Department of the Army. Secretary. Under Secretary. ... Department of the Navy. Secretary. Under Secretary. ... Joint Chiefs of Staff. Chairman (two-year term of office) Vice Chairman (two-year term of office)

What is a presidential appointee confirmation?

Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution and law of the United States, certain federal positions appointed by the president of the United States require confirmation (advice and consent) of the United States Senate.

How many votes does the Supreme Court have?

The Supreme Court has its own set of rules. According to these rules, four of the nine Justices must vote to accept a case.

Why was Alexander Wolcott rejected?

Opposition to Wolcott's nomination centered on two main reasons: his lack of judicial experience and his role as a customs inspector. Wolcott was widely believed to be unqualified and incapable of serving in such an important judicial position.

Which presidential appointments dont require confirmation?

PA positions (approximately 400 positions): Presidential appointments that do not require Senate confirmation. These are senior-level positions, including jobs within the Executive Office of the President such as senior White House aides and advisors.

Can one senator block a nomination?

In the United States Senate, a hold is a parliamentary procedure permitted by the Standing Rules of the United States Senate which allows one or more Senators to prevent a motion from reaching a vote on the Senate floor.

Who can confirm appointments?

The Appointments Clause of Article II, Section 2, Clause 2, of the United States Constitution empowers the President of the United States to nominate and, with the advice and consent (confirmation) of the United States Senate, appoint public officials.

What branch confirms presidential appointments?

The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent, and to ratify treaties.

How many appointments does the president make?

The President also appoints the heads of more than 50 independent federal commissions, such as the Federal Reserve Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as federal judges, ambassadors, and other federal offices.

What if the approval group is not in session?

If the Senate isn't officially in session, the President does have the power to appoint officers directly using his recess appointments powers, but modern parliamentary techniques used in the Senate rarely allow an opportunity for such appointments.Feb 2, 2017

How many cabinet nominations did the Senate reject?

At this writing, the Senate has rejected only nine of a president’s Cabinet nominations. Four were made by embattled Whig-turned-Independent John Tyler in 1843 and 1844, including choices for secretary of war and treasury secretary.

Who was the Supreme Court nominee in 2016?

Since 1845, the Senate has taken no action on only five Supreme Court nominees, the latest being Merrick Garland in 2016. Obama, a liberal Democrat, selected Garland to fill a vacancy created by the February 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative. Republican leadership decided to adhere to a Senate tradition ...

What is Article 2 Section 2?

Article II, Section 2 empowers the president to nominate and—“by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate”—to appoint principal officers such as department heads as well as subordinate ones such as deputies. The process of the president’s nomination of Cabinet secretaries, and the Senate’s confirmation of them, ...

What is the purpose of the Congressional Research Service?

The Congressional Research Service, which studies and analyzes legislative matters for members of the Senate and House, breaks it down this way: First, the White House selects a prospective appointee and sends a formal nomination to the Senate. Second, the Senate determines whether to confirm the nomination.

Who can recommend candidates for executive branch positions?

Members of Congress and other interested parties may recommend candidates for executive branch positions. However, a president or president-elect isn’t bound by such recommendations, according to the Congressional Research Service, whose recent reports on the confirmation process provide the basis for this article.

What is the Office of Government Ethics?

The Office of Government Ethics is available to guide a candidate through the paperwork. The FBI typically does a background check and submits a report. The Office of Government Ethics, along with an ethics official from the relevant agency, reviews the financial disclosures.

Who was the defense secretary in 1989?

1989. George H.W. Bush’s choice of former Sen. John Tower, R-Texas, for defense secretary, by a vote of 53-47. Another 13 Cabinet nominations were withdrawn from Senate consideration, 10 of them because of political dustups under the past three presidents.

Majority rule

The 54 senators voting “yes”, thereby confirming Barr as attorney general, represent 48 percent of voting age Americans, or 107 million people.

Key votes

Democrats Joe Manchin, Doug Jones and Kyrsten Sinema voted to confirm Barr and one Republican, Rand Paul, voted against Barr.

How long does a Senate nomination have to be on the executive calendar?

The nomination must be on the Executive Calendar for more than one day before it can make it to the Senate floor for consideration. Unanimous consent of the time and date for debate must be agreed upon by all senators. If even one senator does not agree, a hold is placed on the nomination.

What is PAS in the Senate?

All presidential appointments requiring Senate confirmation (PAS) must follow the appointment confirmation process before taking office. Although the number of PAS positions varies by administration, it typically includes all executive department secretaries, undersecretaries, and inspectors general. Some roles in independent agencies and ...

Who is the attorney general nominee for Biden?

Merrick Garland, President Biden's nominee for U.S. attorney general, speaks in Wilmington, Del., on Jan. 7. Most people know Judge Merrick Garland for what didn't happen to him. Five years ago, the Senate never acted on his nomination to the Supreme Court. This week, that will change, as a new chapter begins in Garland's lifelong commitment ...

Who is the Supreme Court nominee for 2016?

In 2016, Judge Merrick Garland was President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. Five years later, he is President Biden's pick to lead the Justice Department.

How many people died in the Oklahoma bombing?

On April 19, 1995, a truck bomb tore apart the federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. Former Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick remembers watching that day, with Garland at her side. "He basically said, while watching children being pulled out of the wreckage, that he had to go," Gorelick said.

Is Garland a moderate?

Just about the only criticism Garland's nomination has drawn is in the area of civil rights, where his record is less robust. "Garland is a moderate, so I don't see him as the bold and visionary leader on racial justice that some people were hoping for," said Georgetown's Butler.