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Tracking Appointments
This page helps you track appointment information within the Executive Branch of the United States Government. The list is incomplete because appointments are volatile and many of the appointments are in transition. This page deals primarily with Presidential Appointments which require confirmation by the United States Senate. The problem for each of us interested in Presidential Appointments is to know the status of either a particular person in relation to the appointment process or information about a particular position, its status - is it filled - vacant - filled with a temporary appointee, or is it a new position, or has the position been eliminated? Sunday, February 03, 2008 08:25 PM Some General Suggestions You know the name of the person, but do not know what position in the United States Government or that person's status: The best and quickest first attempt is on one of the internet search engines like Google, MSN, Yahoo, or similar search services. Anyone in a Presidential Appointment whether confirmed, or at any status of an appointment almost always ends on one of the primary search engines. You know the name of the position, but nothing else: The search engines are a quick resource that usually works, not always, but a start. The following resources offer a variety of ways to approach a government search for particular appointment information largely related to Presidential Appointments requiring confirmation by the United States Senate.
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Updated Sunday, February 03, 2008 08:25 PM |
Helpful Definitions |
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The White House The White House updates an announcement page most business days. That site is http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/ The left column has a list of nominations and appointments to review. That material goes back to the start of the current Presidential term in an alpha listing. The center section of the main page shows a variety of announcements by date. When there are nominations and appointments, they are noted there. This section includes some detail about nominations. If you are tracking a current nomination, move on to the Senate section below. United States Senate When a nomination of the President is sent to the Senate, it is referred to a Senate Committee or sub-Committee for initial consideration and recommendation to the whole Senate. The committee references are reasonably obvious, Judiciary handles Judges and US Attorneys, Indian Affairs handles Indian related appointments, etc. (Contact us at Director@Presidential-Appointments.org if you need help on this one.) Go to Senate Committees for details. This page provides the list of Senate Committees. On the left side there is a current list of hearings. Other current and historical information is also found on this page. Hearings and Votes The Senate Committees do the primary hearings and studies on nominees. The members vote to submit the nomination to the full Senate. Rejected nominees at this stage can be brought to the full Senate by a vote of the full Senate, overriding the Committee decision. Full Senate Consideration When an nominee goes before the full Senate, most confirmations occur quickly. Once confirmed, an appointee can be sworn into office at any time thereafter. You can check on when Senate action is taken, and the result by reviewing the Congressional Record. The Record is usually updated late in the morning after each daily session is completely. There is a search function on the page for historic information as well as for a current session. The information is a verbatim record so the search function is almost a necessity to find things quickly. Military officer appointments are confirmed in this Record, as well. Usually the vote on a nomination is routine, but if there is floor discussion or debate, it is available on the Congressional Record site, in total. |
Cabinet Offices The Cabinet Departments maintain a variety of web pages - some are less current than others. If you do not find the information you need - expand to other sources. All of these Presidential Appointments are listed on the White House announcements and submitted to the Senate at some point. The Senior Appointments show top Appointments, including those positions which are vacant. The other Bureaus and Offices and their appointees detail many other positions in the State Department. Other State Office and Appointees, with descriptions are found at: Other Offices The State Department has a huge personnel list so reviewing the web page for appointments is a large task. |
White House The White House currently uses a number of notations in its appointment announcements. Some of those are: "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. "Withdrawn" - the nomination of person has been with withdrawn from consideration for the position and from the Senate. This terminates the confirmation proceedings at any point and cancels the nomination. "Resigned" - The nominated person withdraws from further consideration by the Senate and the White House for the noted position. "Recess Appointments" by-pass the Senate confirmation process and take office immediately. (See Link) "Appointed" or "Appointment" - on the White House list of nominations suggests a position which does not require Senate confirmation. The person takes office immediately. General Definitions "Vacant" - the 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. "Interim Appointment" - a person is temporally filling a position until a confirmed appointee 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. |
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