Tenure

of Office Act. By the Constitution the Senate is a ociated with the President in the making of appointments to office. But it was concluded in 1789 that removals were entirely in the discretion of the President. This remained the rule until 1867, when Congre , in the course of its quarrel with President Johnson, pa ed over his veto the Tenure of Office Act. This act provided that, with certain exceptions, every officer appointed with the concurrence of the Senate should retain his office until a succe or should be in like manner appointed. During the rece of the Senate the President might, for specified causes, suspend an officer until the Senate could act. If the Senate approved, the officer might then be removed, otherwise not. Johnson’s ignoring of the act in the case of Secretary Stanton, in 1868, led to his impeachment. The act was repealed in 1887.