Humphrey Institute News on-the-go

Columnist Lori Sturdevant discusses a book written by former Humphrey Assistant Dean Paul C. Light in relation to the number of presidential appointments that require Senate approval.

The swelling number of positions requiring Senate confirmation is a particular target of Light's criticism. He notes that when Franklin Roosevelt took office, 51 positions went to the Senate for a vote. Today, the White House puts that count at 543. Obama has made selections for 319 of those posts, and the Senate has confirmed 236

Download article