Sometimes referred to as "the courtesy of the Senate," it is a general practice - with no written rule - applied to consideration of executive nominations. Generally, it means that nominations from a state are not to be confirmed unless they have been approved by the senators of the president’s party of that state, with other senators following their colleagues’ lead in the attitude they take toward consideration of such nominations. Senatorial courtesy also applies to sitting or former senators who are nominated, allowing them to be quickly confirmed. ( See also Nominations.) back to top of S glossary

Describes the custom in the advice and consent process whereby the Senator from a nominee's county must approve the nominee before the nomination will be considered by the Senate.

Under this practice senators of the president's political party who object to a candidate that the president wishes to appoint to a district judgeship in their home state have a virtual veto over the nomination.

The practice that gives to the senators of the state concerned in federal court appointments the right to sponsor and support a candidate as well as a strong veto over any undesired candidate by withholding such sponsorship. To the extent that states "claim" a certain number of federal judgeships, the individual senator is supported by the other senators who expect the same courtesy paid them in appointments at another time.

In the United States, senatorial courtesy is the custom whereby the Senate will refuse to confirm any Presidential appointments if objections are raised by either