Senate confirmation hearings are now underway for President Bush's nominees to replace Cabinet level Department Secretaries who have resigned their posts since Mr. Bush won re-election to a second term last November.
Nominations Sent to the Senate Include:
Seante Confirmation Process:
In order to lead the president is given this power to nominate, but to prevent the president and presidential appointees from exercising arbitrary power, the Senate has the authority to approve or reject these nominations. Article II, section 2, paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives the Senate responsibility for considering and confirming the President's executive and judicial nominations.
In recent years, more than 300 positions in 14 cabinet agencies and more than 100 positions in independent and other agencies have been subject to presidential appointment. Approximately 4,000 civilian and 65,000 military nominations are submitted to the Senate during each Congress.
Cabinet secretaries are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate after being reviewed by the appropriate Senate committee. For example; the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to be Attorney General, will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The nominees then face a vote by the full Senate, where a simple majority vote is required to confirm their nomination, allowing them to assume their Cabinet posts.
Also See: About the President's Cabinet
