Final answer:
The president can appoint various federal officials, but they cannot make a recess appointment without it being temporary and potentially facing political backlash. Some positions, especially federal judges, require Senate confirmation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The president has the authority to nominate individuals for various federal positions, including cabinet and subcabinet positions, members of independent regulatory commissions, top officials at U.S. governmental agencies, White House staff, and the U.S. diplomatic corps, including ambassadors. Most of these appointments need to be confirmed by the Senate. When it comes to federal judges, including the Supreme Court, the president also nominates candidates for these positions. After a nomination, these individuals are then subject to confirmation through a majority vote in the Senate, often after deliberation by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
However, there is one type of appointment a president cannot make without going through the customary process: a recess appointment, which bypasses the Senate confirmation when the Senate is out of session. Even though the Constitution permits recess appointments, they are temporary and expire at the end of the next session of Congress. The use of recess appointments can also provoke a political backlash and is not a substitute for the formal confirmation process.
In conclusion, while presidents have broad appointing powers, these are limited in several important aspects, and not all appointments can be made unilaterally without Senate approval.