Question

Senatorial courtesy refers to the ____________________.

A. practice of allowing presidential appointees to serve up to one year without Senate approval
B. tradition of granting senators considerable power over federal judicial appointments in their home states
C. common law practice of senators not asking questions of presidential appointees to the federal courts but approving them on the basis of their records
D. tradition of opposing no more than two appointments per term
E. willingness to allow presidents to make all judicial appointments from within their political parties

Answer 1

Senatorial courtesy is a tradition in the U.S. whereby senators can block judicial nominees in their state, especially if they are from the same political party as the president. It allows senators to exert considerable influence on federal judicial appointments and can result in delaying or derailing nominees. D. tradition of opposing no more than two appointments per term

Step-by-step explanation:

Senatorial courtesy refers to a tradition in the United States Senate whereby presidential nominees for judicial office are not confirmed if the nominee is opposed by a senator from the president’s party from the state in which the judge is to serve. More broadly, this tradition grants senators significant power over federal judicial appointments within their home state.

This customary practice ensures a level of home state input into the appointments process. Senators can exert such influence, especially when they share the party affiliation with the president, to the degree that they can essentially block a nominee by voicing their opposition. Failure to secure the support of a state's senators can mean a presidential appointee does not advance in the confirmation process.

This form of courtesy has an impact on the appointment of judges to lower federal courts, and at times, it may extend to higher judicial positions, including nominees to the United States Supreme Court. Recently, tactics such as outright refusal to hold hearings or using what is known as 'malign neglect' demonstrate the political nature of this tradition. While historically the Senate has, in most cases, confirmed a president's nominees, this practice of senatorial courtesy represents a significant exception.

The influence of senatorial courtesy can be particularly strong when the presidency and the Senate are controlled by the same political party, making the process smoother for nominees. However, when different parties control these branches, or when senators choose to make a point about broader political issues or a president's policies, confirmation can be significantly delayed or even derailed.