re: #128 Blind Frog Belly White

If the Senate refuses to fulfill their own constitutional duties and in doing so prevents the President from fulfilling his, is that ‘unconstitutional’? Their constitutional duty is to consider the President’s nominees and determine whether they consent to THAT NOMINEE.

I think you’re interpreting it so broadly as to rob it of any meaning.

If the Senate were to announce “We’ll reject anybody you nominate unless that person is Zombie Bork”, that would IMO clearly infringe on the president’s job of making nominations.

A blanket refusal to consider any nominations is a murkier issue. A SCOTUS appointment requires a nomination from the president and consent from the Senate, and I just think it’s really hard to get any more than these bare bones out of the constitution.