Final answer:
The willingness of opposition Congresses to confirm presidential appointees varied over time due to political dynamics and partisanship. The Senate has become more willing to challenge nominees, especially when the presidency is controlled by one party and the Senate by the other.
Step-by-step explanation:
In terms of opposition Congresses being willing to confirm presidential appointees, the dynamics between the executive branch and the legislative branch can vary depending on the specific time period, the president, and the political climate. However, based on the information provided, we can discuss the general trends in recent decades.
In recent history, the opposition party in Congress has become more willing to challenge the president's nominees, especially in cases where the presidency is controlled by one political party and the Senate is controlled by the other. This increased partisanship and polarization in Congress has led to more scrutiny and opposition to appointees, regardless of the president's identity. For example, during the Obama administration, there were instances of the Senate blocking or slowing down nominations as a form of protest against the president's policies.
Based on these dynamics, it is difficult to definitively identify which opposition Congress was most or least willing to confirm the president's appointees between 1981 and 2016. The confirmation process can vary greatly depending on the specific nominees and political circumstances.