Nomination – A proposed presidential appointment to a federal office submitted to the Senate for confirmation. Approval is by majority vote. The Constitution explicitly requires confirmation for ambassadors, consuls, “public Ministers” (department heads), and Supreme Court justices. By law, other federal judges, all military promotions of officers, and many high-level civilian officials must be confirmed. In any year, the Senate processes almost 40,000 nominations, most of them for military positions and the vast bulk with little debate or objection.