Advice and Consent

Political commentators often claim that, once upon a time, Senate confirmation hearings were less partisan. That tale is only partly true. It is true that, in its entire history, the Senate has rejected only 15 of more than 700 Cabinet nominees and approved about 80 percent of all Supreme Court nominees.

It's also true, however, that the Senate has always guarded its constitutional right to provide "advice and consent" on important appointments. And it's never been afraid to wield that right as a political weapon.

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