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

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

Historically, confirmation hearings for Fed chairs are held months before the transition to avoid a leadership gap at the central bank.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

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

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

He helped Bernanke prepare for his Senate confirmation hearings, then scored his own appointment to the Fed board in 2006.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 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