Nominees can face a lengthy Senate vetting process before taking office, though Trump may try to upend that exercise in some cases.

President-elect Donald Trump has declared a strong intention to use recess appointments in his next term. What are recess appointments?

“Republican control of the Senate thus gives Trump the chance to use recess appointments in radically new way — basically, standing up a new government in one fell swoop, but only if the Senate is willing to give him carte blanche in filling appointments as he wishes for two years,” Cameron said.