In what way does Congress influence the appointment of federal judges?

Congress influences the appointment of federal judges primarily through the process of confirming or rejecting nominations. Once the President nominates a candidate for a federal judgeship, the nomination is sent to the Senate, where it is reviewed and must receive a majority vote to be confirmed. This confirmation process ensures that Congress has a significant role in the judiciary's composition, reflecting the system of checks and balances inherent in the U.S. government.

Options that imply direct election, reviewing past rulings, or holding public hearings, while they might touch upon aspects of judicial oversight and accountability, do not accurately capture the primary mechanism by which Congress directly influences judicial appointments. The direct election of judges is not a feature of federal judicial appointments; past rulings are not a formal part of the confirmation process in the Senate; and public hearings, though they occur, serve primarily to facilitate the confirmation process rather than to act as a means of influence themselves. The most direct and impactful way Congress exercises its influence is through the confirmation and rejection of nominees.