The executive branch
nomination
The President's formal proposal of a person for an office that requires Senate confirmation. The nominee holds no authority until confirmed and sworn in.
In full
A nomination is sent to the Senate, referred to the committee with jurisdiction, and usually gets a hearing and a committee vote before the floor. Nominations die at the end of a Congress and must be resubmitted. In elections the same word means a party formally selecting its candidate, which is a different process entirely.
Also written as: nominee, nominate
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.