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Presidential Appointments and Senatorial Confirmations

Essential Question:  

  • How does the appointment and confirmation process of federal officials demonstrate the principle of checks and balances?  

Objectives: 

  • Students will understand what the job of the president and the Senate are in filling positions in the federal government 
  • Students will explore and evaluate various positions that will be filled in 2025 

Materials: 

Anticipate:  

Begin class by asking students what they have heard about the incoming administrations appointments to head various departments in the federal government. Allow a few students to share what they know about this process.  

Transition note: Tell students: The president does not hold sole power to fill positions in the federal government. Our Constitution establishes the process through which this occurs.

Have students read Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution to understand the nomination and confirmation process. Ask students to write a 1-2 sentence summary of it in their own words.  

Explore: 

Transition note: Tell students: We will now look deeper into the process of appointing and confirming federal officials.

Distribute Ballotpedia: Appointment confirmation process for students to read. Have them answer the following comprehension questions as they read. 

Comprehension Questions: 

  • What is PAS? 
  • In your own words, summarize the process that the executive branch goes through when selecting candidates. 
  • In your own words, summarize the process that the Senate goes through when evaluating and voting on candidates. 

Engage: 

Distribute the Presidential Appointments and Senatorial Confirmations Graphic Organizer. Students can use the Ballotpedia handout links to find background for the purposes of the various departments.  

Once students have completed their graphic organizers, lead a class discussion over their findings. What is the importance of having two separate branches of government be involved in the process of appointing and confirming members of the various departments? How does this uphold the principle of checks and balances? 

Extension:  

Have students research a time in history when the Senate did not confirm a cabinet member that the president appointed. They should write a paragraph on their findings, including information about why the president chose the official, and why the Senate ultimately did not confirm him or her.  

 

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