Legal Definitions - public appointment

A public appointment is when someone is chosen for a job or duty in a public office. This can be for a nonelected position, like a government official. The President of the United States has the power to make public appointments for important federal officials, but the Senate has to agree.

For example, if the President wants to appoint someone to be the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, they would make a public appointment. This person would then have an office in the government and be responsible for overseeing the EPA.

Public appointments can also happen in organizations that follow parliamentary law. This means that someone can be named to a position without being elected by the members of the organization.

Another type of appointment is when someone is given the power to dispose of property. This is called a power of appointment. For example, if a tenant has the power to appoint lands, they can choose who gets to use the land.

It's important to note that sometimes an appointment can be illusory. This means that it's not a real appointment, but just a nominal or conditional transfer of property. This can be tricky to figure out, so many courts don't use this doctrine.