what percentage of the senate vote does it take to confirm the us attorney general spot?

by Zachery Lemke 7 min read

Does the Senate have the power to confirm presidential nominations?

Jan 07, 2021 · 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. The Senate confirmed him on March 10, 2021, by a vote of 70-30.

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

Mar 10, 2021 · And on October 26, about a week before Election Day, she was confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. McConnell said he voted to confirm Garland's nomination as attorney general "because of ...

How does majority rule work in the Senate Quizlet?

Apr 21, 2021 · The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm the nomination of Vanita Gupta for associate attorney general despite nearly unified opposition from Republicans. ... Department's No. 3 spot in a 51-49 vote ...

How many votes does it take to change the Senate rules?

Fifty percent plus one. So under ordinary circumstances, that is all 100 Senators voting, 51 votes are required. That is either 51 Senators or 50 Senators plus the Vice President’s tie breaker vote. However, if a Senator or Senators is unable to vote or chooses to abstain, a lesser number of votes would suffice.

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.

What presidential nominations is the Senate required to confirm?

The 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 ...

How does the Senate approve presidential appointments?

The Senate maintains several powers to itself: It ratifies treaties by a two-thirds supermajority vote and confirms the appointments of the President by a majority vote. The consent of the House of Representatives is also necessary for the ratification of trade agreements and the confirmation of the Vice President.

What body of Congress approves nominations?

Article II, section 2 of the Constitution splits the responsibility for filling high-ranking federal government positions between the executive and legislative branches. The president has the power to appoint people to these positions, but those appointments must be approved by the Senate.

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.

What level of officials do not require Senate approval?

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.

What positions do not need Senate confirmation?

The tracker includes all full-time civilian positions in the executive branch that require Senate confirmation except for judges, marshals and U.S. attorneys. Military appointments and part-time positions requiring Senate confirmation are not included.Aug 9, 2021

How many votes do you need to confirm Justice?

A simple majority vote is needed for confirmation (there are currently 100 U.S. senators). Typically, the nomination and confirmation process for a justice takes several months, but it can be, and on occasion has been, completed more quickly.

Do ambassadors need Senate approval?

Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, their appointment must be confirmed by the United States Senate; while an ambassador may be appointed during a recess, they can serve only until the end of the next session of Congress, unless subsequently confirmed.

Whose vote is a tiebreaker in the Senate?

Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 of the United States Constitution provides that the vice president of the United States is the ex officio president of the Senate, and that the vice president may cast a vote in the Senate only in order to break a tie.

Does the Senate have to approve a Supreme Court nominee?

How are Supreme Court Justices selected? The President nominates someone for a vacancy on the Court and the Senate votes to confirm the nominee, which requires a simple majority. In this way, both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the federal government have a voice in the composition of the Supreme Court.

Can a president confirmed Senate members?

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.

Why did McConnell vote for Garland?

McConnell said he voted to confirm Garland's nomination as attorney general "because of his long reputation as a straight-shooter and legal expert," calling his "left-of-center perspective" within "the legal mainstream.".

Who blocked Amy Coney Barrett's nomination?

Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans blocked his nomination, claiming that the public should vote for the next president to decide the lifelong appointment. But in September 2020, then-President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

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 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 ...

Can the President fill executive branch positions temporarily?

In some circumstances not normally associated with a new president’s initial Cabinet appointments, the president may fill vacancies in executive branch positions temporarily. One way is through a recess appointment.

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.

Senate narrowly confirms Vanita Gupta to serve in Justice Department role

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm the nomination of Vanita Gupta for associate attorney general despite nearly unified opposition from Republicans.

Congress Biden's agenda confronts shifting Democratic power dynamics

McConnell also accused Gupta of employing "the loosest possible interpretation of her oath to deliver honest testimony" during her confirmation process and said her reputation “contrasts sharply" with that of Attorney General Merrick Garland, whom he voted to confirm.