Trump’s intent to nominate loyalists to fill key Cabinet posts has set up a possible confrontation with the Senate.

With President-elect Trump building his Cabinet, the idea of recess appointments has been floated, but what are they and how can they be used?

President-elect Donald Trump has said he may use temporary recess appointments to bypass the Senate confirmation process for his more controversial Cabinet picks.

Ultimately, the Senate must take action to agree with Trump’s picks, one way or another. There is no way around it, all procedural maneuvering aside.

Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative giant, said attempts to circumvent the Senate’s responsibility to vet nominees were “ignoble” and “just made up.”

The Trump transition team is proposing that the president-elect forgo the regular advice-and-consent process and use his recess appointment power to fill his Cabinet—and perhaps install many other high-ranking officials—to avoid time-consuming confirmations.

President-elect Donald Trump’s intent to nominate loyalists to fill key Cabinet posts has set up a possible confrontation with the Senate, which has the constitutional responsibility for “advice and c