confirmation hearings

Cultural  

1. Meetings held by the Senate to gather information about candidates for federal office nominated by the president of the United States. Under the Constitution, the president has the right to appoint whomever he wants to various government offices, including members of the cabinet and federal judges, but each appointment must be approved by the Senate as part of the separation of powers.

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Example Sentences

Kennedy later switched to the pouches and appeared to pop one in during his confirmation hearings, as noted by internet sleuths at the time.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

During his 2005 confirmation hearings to become chief justice, Roberts described an idyllic heartland childhood lifted from a John Cougar Mellencamp song, all “endless fields” that were “punctuated by an isolated silo or a barn.”

From Slate • May 7, 2026

A potential further boost for digital currencies is tied to the likely appointment of Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh, who sat for confirmation hearings on Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

He suggested there should be US-style confirmation hearings for new government ministers and senior appointments.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, admitted, during his confirmation hearings, to having received $30,000 to cover the costs of writing 3 research papers.

From Crime and Corruption by Vaknin, Samuel