Perhaps my search skills are just lacking, but can anyone explain to me how the Senate confirmation process arose? How was the Senate given the authority for approving the President's appointments to Sec. of State, Attorney General, etc.? What was the reason for doing so? And what are their responsibilities?
I've only listened to portions of the confirmation hearings so far, but I ask this question because what I heard this morning was absolutely apalling...
I sat in my car in utter disbelief listening to the hearings this morning. I believe it was Biden who went off about his grave concerns about having Rice as Sec. of State, how he saw no sign of her reflecting or learning from mistakes of the past, etc., etc. He expressed the same concerns many of us have. I cheered him as he spoke - until he followed it all up by saying he'd vote for her anyway. I nearly went through the roof!
Despite his reservations, he would vote for her anyway because he believed in deferring to the President for his cabinet appointments. When I heard that, my mind instantly went back to Congress' vote to authorize the Iraq war. While the Constitution grants the authority to declare war to Congress, Congress shirked it's responsibilities. Instead, they essentially passed that responsibility on to the President; let him make the decision. And I feel I'm hearing the same thing now. "Hey, this person's awful for the country, but if that's what the President wants..."
So, someone please correct/enlighten me. What exactly are the Senate's responsibilities here? Where are they specified? And are they living up to them?