APPOINTMENTS vs. ELECTIONS: Open U.S. Senate Seats
With so many U.S. Senate seats filled by appointments following Senators’ moves to other elected or appointed offices, we at Imagine A Great Election believe it is critical for appointees to these important positions to be forthright with their opinions and intentions regarding issues of highest importance to American voters. Below is a list of these issues as well as responsibilities potential new members of the Senate must consider and ought to discuss openly with the public.
Advice and Consent
In this category, potential Senators ought to be asked about their points of view regarding:
A Senator’s responsibility to exercise independent judgment on Cabinet nominations.
A Senator’s responsibility to ask questions of nominees to Cabinet positions, questions which inform the public as well as themselves.
A Senator’s responsibility to exercise independent judgment on Supreme Court nominees.
Potential Senators should be asked to reveal and explain:
Which Supreme Court Justices they most respect and why, and
Whether or not they believe the U.S. Attorney General should be independent of the U.S. President.
Potential Senators also ought to be asked about their points of view regarding: