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.

---

Etymology

Origin of senatorial courtesy

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

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

He also said he has declined to return his blue slip — a senatorial courtesy that gives home-state senators a chance to express acceptance of a nominee.

From Washington Times • Oct. 10, 2018

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

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)