Senate confirmation process explained - 1/13/25

This vlog is to help us understand better how the senate confirmation process works.

The 19th explains: How Trump's cabinet nominees will get confirmed:

https://19thnews.org/2025/01/trump-cabinet-picks-senate-confirmation-process/

https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/nominations.htm

Under Section 2 of Article 2:

"He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he 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 for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."

https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/constitution.htm

Guide for Prospective Trump Administration political appointees:

https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/advisories/2024/11/a-guide-for-prospective-trump-administration-political-appointees

In the past 100 years, the Senate has rejected three nominations, all from Republican presidents:

1925

Calvin Coolidge’s choice of Charles Warren for attorney general, by votes of 41-39 and 46-39.

1959

Dwight Eisenhower’s choice of Lewis Strauss for commerce secretary, by a vote of 49-46.

1989

George H.W. Bush’s choice of former Sen. John Tower, R-Texas, for defense secretary, by a vote of 53-47.

3 potential Trump appointee rejections:

Hegseth for SecDef
Gabbard for DNI
RFK, Jr. for HHS

https://www.heritage.org/political-process/heritage-explains/the-confirmation-process-presidential-appointees

To see which senators sit on the following committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:

https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_membership/committee_memberships_SSGA.htm