what committee is involved in the attorney general confirmation process

by Dr. Shaniya Upton 8 min read

What happens at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a nominee?

Jan 07, 2021 · Confirmation process for Merrick Garland for U.S. attorney general. President Joe Biden (D) announced Merrick Garland was his nominee for U.S. attorney general on January 7, 2021. This presidential appointment required Senate confirmation. The Senate Judiciary Committee held Garland's confirmation hearing for February 22-23, 2021.

What is the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominees?

Mar 01, 2021 · The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 15-7 in favor of advancing Merrick Garland’s nomination to serve as attorney general to the full Senate; Garland, a federal appeals court judge, is widely expected to sail through the rest of the confirmation process

What is the process for the appointment of a federal judge?

1 hour ago · Jennifer Boever, whose husband was killed in 2020 by a car driven by South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, reacts Monday, March 28, 2022, in Pierre, S.D., as a House committee recommends ...

How does the Senate process a presidential nomination?

Jurisdictions of Senate committees in presidential appointment confirmation U.S. Senate committee Jurisdiction; Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: U.S. Department of Agriculture: Armed Services: U.S. Department of Defense: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Securities and Exchange Commission

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How is a US attorney general confirmed?

The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States. Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.

Who approves presidential appointment?

the SenateThe United States Constitution provides that the president "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided ...

Who appointed AG Garland?

Merrick GarlandIn office March 20, 1997 – March 11, 2021Appointed byBill ClintonPreceded byAbner J. MikvaSucceeded byKetanji Brown Jackson22 more rows

Does the House confirm presidential Appointments?

The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent, and to ratify treaties. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade.

Who approved treaties?

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

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.

Who runs the DOJ?

Attorney General GarlandAs the nation's chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Garland leads the Justice Department's 115,000 employees, who work across the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide.4 days ago

Who was AG before Barr?

William BarrPresidentGeorge H. W. BushPreceded byDonald B. AyerSucceeded byGeorge J. Terwilliger IIIUnited States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel30 more rows

How old is Biden?

79 years (November 20, 1942)Joe Biden / Age

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.

Are assistant secretaries Senate confirmed?

More than 1,000 of these positions—including cabinet secretaries and agency heads, deputy secretaries, assistant secretaries, and ambassadors—require Senate confirmation. Other positions in the White House or in departments and agencies are Presidential appointments without Senate confirmation.Dec 1, 2020

What are the three most important agencies to the president?

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) comprises four agencies that advise the president in key policy areas: the White House Office, the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Office of Management and Budget.

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 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, ...

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 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.

Who is the attorney general nominee for Biden?

6 a top priority. U.S. Circuit Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden's nominee for attorney general, is sworn in at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 22.

What would Garland do if he was confirmed?

Garland testified before the panel last week about how he would lead the Justice Department if he is confirmed by the Senate, reassuring senators that he would protect the department's independence and not allow politics to interfere with the job.

How long has Judge Garland been on the Supreme Court?

Garland, 68, has been a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia since 1997 and was its chief judge from 2013 to 2020. Republicans opted not to consider his nomination by former President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court in 2016.

Who was the Republican nominee for Garland?

Garland's nomination was reported out of the Democratic-led committee in a bipartisan 15-7 vote. Republicans Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the ranking member of the committee, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina joined all Democrats on the panel in supporting the nomination.

Who is Rebecca Shabad?

Rebecca Shabad is a congressional reporter for NBC News , based in Washington.

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 Needs Senate Confirmation?

All cabinet-level officials, except the White House chief of staff, require Senate confirmation, including: the secretaries of agriculture, commerce, defense, education, energy, health and human services, homeland security, housing and urban development, interior, labor, state, transportation, treasury, and veterans affairs, as well as the attorney general, director of the Office of Management and Budget, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.

When Does the President Send Appointments to the Hill?

Before a nomination may move to the Hill, the candidate must submit several forms and undergo a fair amount of vetting by the White House and FBI.

What Does the Confirmation Process Look Like?

1) A nomination is given to the relevant Senate committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee, for example, handles the attorney general nomination.

Will Trump Have the Votes?

The GOP barely kept its majority in the Senate after this year's elections, and rejections of major appointments are rare. Republicans have 52 seats, but that number includes Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who is Trump's pick for attorney general.

When Are the Hearings and Votes?

Hearings for several Cabinet picks started in January before the inauguration. Nominees were not permitted to be confirmed, however, until after the president was sworn in on Jan. 20. A number of nominees have been voted on, confirmed and sworn in. A full list of those who require Senate confirmation and their status is below.

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Committee Hearings

  • The nomination is passed to the Senate committee with jurisdiction over the appointed position. Some PAS positions require a joint hearing of two or more committees. Committee hearings allow a close examination of the nominee, looking for partisanship and views on public policy. They can also summon supporters and opponents to testify. Committees a...
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Committee Jurisdictions

  • The following table outlines jurisdiction of the Senate committees in terms of the presidential appointment confirmation process. The left column indicates the Senate committee, and the right indicates the federal departments and administrations over which the committee has jurisdiction. For more information on each committee, follow the link in the left column.
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Senate Hearings

  • 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 holdis placed on the nomination. Once the nomination is considered by the Senate, unlimited debate is allowed until …
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Presidential Notification

  • Finally, the Senate's action on the nomination is sent to the president. All results are recorded in the Congressional Record.
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