Can you list the positions in federal government that require Senate approval?

The number of presidential appointments subject to Senate approval exceeds 1,200, so The Informer can’t list all of them.

But it can provide a sample, gleaned from the Plum Book, a 226-page listing of posts available in the legislative and executive branches of the federal government:

Architect of the Capitol.

Comptroller general.

Librarian of Congress.

Office of Management and Budget director.

Intellectual property enforcement coordinator.

Council of Economic Advisers chairman.

U.S. trade representative.

Office of Science and Technology Policy director.

Agriculture secretary.

Commerce secretary.

Defense secretary.

Air Force Secretary.

Army Secretary.

Navy Secretary.

Education secretary.

Energy secretary.

Health and Human Services secretary.

Homeland Security secretary.

Housing and Urban Development secretary.

Interior secretary.

Attorney general.

Labor secretary.

Secretary of state.

Transportation secretary.

Treasury secretary.

Secretary of veterans affairs.

“Under the Constitution, the President and the Senate share the power to appoint the principal officers of the United States. Almost all of the highest-level political appointee positions in the federal government are filled by these officers,” reads a Congressional Research Service report published in August.

“Three distinct stages mark the appointment process — selection and nomination by the President, consideration of the nomination by the Senate, and, if the nominee is confirmed, official appointment by the President.”

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Online: www.govinfo.gov/features/2016-plum-book; https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30959.pdf.

Coach Williams work to begin in spring

I thought there was a new road being constructed from Coach Williams Road to Houston River Road. What is the status?

The Informer last addressed the question in June.

At the time, Tim Conner, parish engineer, said that “design surveys, traffic analysis, geotechnical investigations, abstracting and title reports” were mostly completed and that officials were seeking environmental permits.

“Over 50 parcels of property are impacted by the project, and right of way acquisition has begun,” Conner said in June. “It is projected that construction will begin in the spring of 2017.”

On Thursday, John Bruce with the Calcasieu Parish Engineering Department said the project — a three-mile extension of Coach Williams from Old Spanish Trail to Houston River Road — remains on track.

“Agency review comments are being addressed, relative to the final design. …,” he wrote in an email. “Right of way transactions have been completed with over two thirds of the property owners involved.”

He said work should begin within a few months.

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Online: www.cppj.net.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.