Before they can take their posts, many of these individuals must first receive the Senate’s seal of approval.
By Brendan Rascius, The Charlotte Observer (TNS)
Ahead of his inauguration in January, President-elect Donald Trump has begun assembling his Cabinet and other key members of his administration.
So far, Trump has announced around a half dozen Cabinet picks, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, Fox News host Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general.
He’s also tapped South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for homeland security secretary, former Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe for CIA director and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, among others.
But, before they can take their posts, many of these individuals must first receive the Senate’s seal of approval.
The U.S. Constitution stipulates that the Senate must approve of a number of presidential appointments, including ambassadors and Supreme Court justices.
“All of the Cabinet officers — other than the vice president — are considered principal officers under the Constitution, which means that they require the consent of the Senate,” Josh Chafetz, a professor of law and politics at the Georgetown University Law Center, told McClatchy News.
