GLOSSARY AND DEFINITIONS

Updated:  Sunday, November 22, 2009 - 07:38 PM

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This page is a response to readers inquiring about meaning of relatively technical words and phrases that come up in discussions about executive appointments.  For a decade we explained those terms on requests by e-mail - but there and more and more duplicate questions we are starting to post them here as they come up.  If you don't find the information you need here, e-mail us at Director@Presidential-Appointments.org.

Search this page using your browser search function.  Generally - these are filed alphabetically by the first word only - so search by whatever word interests you to find what you want to know.

appointed or "appointment - on the White House list of nominations suggests a position which does not require Senate confirmation.  The person takes office immediately.

floor vote - this is a vote on an issue or a nominee for confirmation by an entire legislative body.

interim appointment - a  person is temporally filling a position until a confirmed appointee is sworn in.  The length allowed for interim appointments is determined by statute and is limited in length.  The interim person generally has all the authority to act allotted to the position when created.

nominated - a person has been formally chosen by the President for a position which requires confirmation by the United States Senate.  At this point, the nomination with its supporting materials is being forwarded to the Senate for consideration for confirmation.

recess appointments - Presidential appointments that by-pass the Senate confirmation process and take office immediately. (See Link)

reported out of committee - When a committee of Congress makes a decision on an issue or Presidential nomination, it is "reported out of committee" to the entire legislative body, House or Senate, which is involved.

resigned - A nominated person for a Presidential appointments withdraws from further consideration by the Senate and the White House.

vacant - a position in question has no legal appointment because of a resignation, death, removal for cause, or the end of a prior term of office.  No one is exercising the duties of the office in question.

withdrawn appointment - the nominee for a Presidential appointment has taken himself out of consideration by the White House or the Senate.

"Nominated" - the person has been formally chosen by the President for a position which requires confirmation by the United States Senate.  At this point, the nomination with its supporting materials is being or has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

"Confirmed" - action has been taken by the United States Senate by vote and has approved a person nominated by the President for an Executive Appointment.  The person is sworn into office at this point.

 Copyright 2001-2009 John Isaacson

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Director@Presidential-Appointments.org

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Owner Vita

     John Isaacson, page owner, graduated from Washington University Law School - He was involved in Missouri state politics as campaign manager for Governor and as state Republican Campaign Chairman in 1963-1964. Isaacson was an Air Force Intelligence Officer in Europe during the Berlin Crisis under John Kennedy - President Nixon appointed him to serve on the President's Commission for the Observance of the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations, serving on the Executive Committee and the China Subcommittee which recommended the admission of China to the United Nations. His political experience includes meetings with Presidents Harry Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, and Ford. He enjoyed a long personal friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt and Edna Gellhorn, the founder of The League of Women Voters. Isaacson has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Near and Far East.  He now lives in western Montana near the Rocky Mountain Continental Divide in Butte Montana, the "Richest Hill on Earth."