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

As the two lawmakers clashed over interruptions and Senate protocol, Mr. Brown chided his Republican colleague, “Senator Kennedy, senatorial courtesy is also not doing character assassination.”

From Washington Times • Nov. 18, 2021

Eventually senatorial courtesy, whereby the Senate always confirmed one of its own, prevailed.

From Washington Post • Feb. 19, 2016

The practice of senatorial courtesy gives great weight to the wishes of the senators from a State in which a federal judge is to serve.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016

On entering office, Hoover had declared that he intended to end the practice of awarding judicial appointments based on senatorial courtesy and instead vowed to raise the standards and requisite qualifications for lower-court ap­pointments.

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2013

Senatorial Courtesy.—There has grown up an almost invariable custom, known as senatorial courtesy.

From Our Government: Local, State, and National: Idaho Edition by James, J.A.