Hoyer Says Constitution Does Not Compel Senate to Consider Nominee

(CNSNews.com) – At his weekly meeting with reporters last week at the nation’s Capitol, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said the Constitution does not require the U.S. Senate to give “advice and consent” on President Barack Obama’s nomination to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, but it is the body’s “responsibility” to move the process forward.

“It’s the responsibility – it’s not mandated by the Constitution – but it’s the responsibility of the United States [Senate] to deal with these issues that confront them,” Hoyer said.

[ Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution states, “He [the president] shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.” ]

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