<P> The appointment and confirmation of Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States involves several steps set forth by the United States Constitution, which have been further refined and developed by decades of tradition . Candidates are nominated by the President of the United States and must face a series of hearings in which both the nominee and other witnesses make statements and answer questions before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which can vote to send the nomination to the full United States Senate . Confirmation by the Senate allows the President to formally appoint the candidate to the court . </P> <P> Article Two of the United States Constitution requires the President of the United States to nominate Supreme Court Justices and, with Senate confirmation, requires Justices to be appointed . This was for the division of power between the President and Senate by the founders, who wrote: </P>

Who approves the appointment of a supreme court justice