# Why did the founders give the power to approve appointments just to the Senate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-founders-give-the-power-to-approve-appointments-just-to-the-senate/825508>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 3, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-founders-give-the-power-to-approve-appointments-just-to-the-senate/825508 "2018-12-03T17:52:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-founders-give-the-power-to-approve-appointments-just-to-the-senate/825508/21 "2018-12-08T19:41:58Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> The US under the Articles of Confederation didn’t have courts at all.

Ah, but it did: the [Court of Appeal in Cases of Capture](http://www.articles1781.com/Prize%20Courts.html). Not really relevant to the thread, but I like expounding on Articles of Confederation trivia.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-founders-give-the-power-to-approve-appointments-just-to-the-senate/825508/22 "2018-12-08T21:34:58Z")

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Thanks for that - did not know it. Makes sense that there would be a prize court during wartime.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-founders-give-the-power-to-approve-appointments-just-to-the-senate/825508/23 "2018-12-10T21:16:09Z")

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> [@AK84](#):
>
> Is this why when the XXV Amendment was proposed, the VP took office upon confirmation by _both_ Houses, not just the Senate?

I once read a book by Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.), a major advocate of the amendment. He wrote that there was an early and firm consensus among his colleagues that, since any VP had at least a decent chance of becoming President, both houses of Congress ought to have a say in giving advice and consent to the midterm nomination of one.

> [@senoy](#):
>
> As a West Virginian, I concur. I have very little doubt that if there were some sort of secession event the majority of West Virginians would choose state over country. Montani Semper Liberi!

A bit ironic, given the historic origins of the state!

> [@Chronos](#):
>
> …most senators have already been members of the House.

Just half, not most, today (numbered p. 3 here): [https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44762.pdf](https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44762.pdf)

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