Which house of Congress approves appointments to the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

senate

Answer 2

The Senate, per Article II, Section 2, (the Nomination Clause) of the US Constitution, was long required to "advise and consent" in the fashion specified in the Section's text reproduced below. However, S. 679, signed into law as Public Law No: 112-166 by President Barack H. Obama on 10 August 2012, has taken advantage of the proviso of the Section that says "...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." and "streamlined" the traditional approval process for many officers of the U.S.; many observers maintain that this constitutes a violation of the Constitution's "checks and balances" and of the enumeration of powers.

Until the enacting of Public Law 112-166, approval generally required a simple majority vote (51%) of those present in the Senate.

Nomination Clause

"[The President] 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."

For more information, see Related Questions, below.

Answer 3

senate