The Economist explains

Why is Donald Trump keen to use “recess appointments”?

The president-elect is testing the loyalty of the Senate’s next majority leader

Photograph: Getty Images
|3 min read

DONALD TRUMP is already picking his cabinet. But he is concerned about getting his choices confirmed by the Senate. On November 10th he tweeted that any Republican hoping to become majority leader of the newly elected Senate, which takes office in January, should allow him to make “Recess Appointments”. This is the only way to confirm his choices for top jobs in the federal government in a “timely manner”, Mr Trump said. Rick Scott, a senator from Florida hoping to win the position, agreed. John Thune and John Cornyn, two other hopefuls, suggested openness to the idea. What is a “recess appointment” and why is Mr Trump so keen to use the procedure?

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