Why does the Senate confirm Trump’s picks for key posts — and how? A legal scholar explains the confirmation process and the ‘constitutional loophole’ of recess appointments
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Jennifer Selin, Arizona State University
(THE CONVERSATION) Since Election Day, President-elect Donald Trump has moved quickly to name his picks for key cabinet posts such as attorney general and the secretaries of defense, health and human services, and state.
Reaction to these nominees ranges from excitementto shock, but one thing is clear: Trump seeks a cabinet filled with staunch allies, even if those allies have little experience in government.
The Constitution requires the Senate to confirm each of these nominations.
History shows that, even when the Senate majority and the president are from the same party, the nomination process does not always go according to presidential plan.
The spoils system
When contemplating appointments, the Framers of the Constitution largely focused on the potential for abuse of...