recess appointment(an appointment made by a president of the United States under his constitutional powers to fill vacancies when the Senate is not in session subject to later confirmation by the Senate. WTNI. Q: How did Claire underwood become ambassador on house of cards? So I'm on the 4th episode of season 3, and earlier she lost the nomination but now in this episode she is ambassador to the UN anyways, I guess i missed something but how did that come to be? A: She merely asked her husband to override the Senate and make her ambassador by means of a shifty device called a recess appointment. He agreed Alexander Demidov)
