Senatorial courtesy is a practice in the US Senate where senators will not confirm candidates for official positions without the approval of the candidate’s home state senators. The president consults with senators of a proposed candidate’s home state before announcing a name to avoid a situation where a senator invokes senatorial courtesy. Some criticize the practice, arguing that it allows senators to wield tremendous power.
In the United States Senate, senatorial courtesy is a practice whereby senators will not confirm candidates for official positions without the approval of the candidate’s home state senators. This practice is not official or codified, but it is generally accepted in Senate practice and has been since 1789. It can become the deal breaker in a nomination; all it takes is a senator from the candidate’s home state to oppose the nomination to ensure it doesn’t go through.
By extension, when the president of the United States is able to make an official nomination, it is traditional to consult the senators of a proposed candidate’s home state, as long as the senators are of the same party as the president. The president confirms that the senators approve of the nominee before going ahead and announcing a name to avoid a situation where a senator invokes senatorial courtesy and drowns out the nomination. This also prevents awkward social and political situations where candidates are publicly rejected due to senatorial courtesy.
Senators can oppose a nomination because a candidate is “personally obnoxious” or for other reasons. Members of the Senate exchange courtesy provided that if a candidate from their home state presents, other senators will provide the same courtesy. While the concept of senatorial courtesy is not a hard-and-fast rule, it does establish a system that allows senators to oppose nominations in the knowledge that if they strongly dislike a candidate in the future, other senators will support them.
Making political appointments is a delicate business, especially for posts like seats on the Supreme Court, because they are held for life unless serious wrongdoing occurs. These positions are important to the president, and he takes care to hand them over to the most suitable person. The confirmation process provides an opportunity for the Senate to evaluate proposed nominations and to oppose candidates that the Senate deems inappropriate.
Some people have criticized senatorial courtesy, arguing that it allows senators to wield tremendous power. A candidate may be controversial, but very suitable for the position, and may be denied out of senatorial courtesy. This has a tendency to consolidate power and can lead to attempts to appoint people who won’t draw ire while ignoring people who may be better suited for a position.
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