What was the theory behind the US Tenure in Office Act?

Answer 1

The theory behind the passage of the Tenure of Office Act seemed to make sense, however, in reality it took away the proper power of a US president. The theory was that if a presidential appointment required the consent of the US senate, then the removal of such an appointment needed to be consented by the senate as well. Thinking about this leads one to ask, if the Senate had the power of the act, it would seem logical that the Senate could also nominate high level cabinet members. Clearly that was not in the US Constitution. Neither was power given to the Senate to give consent to the presidential removal of an appointed cabinet member.The cabinet members serve the president first not the senate. A cabinet member works for the president, he must have the trust & confidence in the people he appointed, or if appointed by Lincoln, as was the case in the purpose of the Act, President Andrew Johnson, assumed Lincoln's role as the "boss" of the cabinet. Clearly Johnson had every right to keep or dismiss any cabinet member.