senatorial courtesy

American  

noun

1. the practice in the U.S. Senate of confirming only those presidential appointees approved by both senators from the state of the appointee, or by the senior senator of the president's party.

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Etymology

Origin of senatorial courtesy

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

senatorial courtesy

Both say that Chairman Cash should have allowed them to exercise their senatorial courtesy to speak outside of public comment and reasonably exceed the two-minute limit.

From Salon ● Nov. 17, 2025

Biden was a longtime senator and still adheres to senatorial courtesy.

From Washington Post ● May 11, 2022

The blue-slip tradition is a vestige of senatorial courtesy, giving home-state senators a chance to weigh in on judicial nominees from their states.

From Washington Times ● May 7, 2018

This practice is known as senatorial courtesy, and it amounts to an unwritten rule that is closely followed in the Senate.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2016

Under the rule of senatorial courtesy the Senate would undoubtedly have done this if the two New York senators had acted together.

From My Memories of Eighty Years by Depew, Chauncey M. (Chauncey Mitchell)