Difference between Nomination and Appointment

In political, social and corporate circles, we often come across these two words ‘Nomination’ and ‘Appointment’. Looking from the surface, both these words might look similar as they suggest selecting or proposing the name of someone for a given position or office or job role. However, these two words do not always suggest the same meaning. Here we discuss the different implications they can have under different situations and usages.

Dictionary meaning of nomination and appointment

If someone is nominated for a position or job, it means their name is suggested (recommended) as a candidate for it through a formal process. For example, the president’s decree can nominate a person as a cultural ambassador. Hence when a person is nominated to a position, it means you choose him formally to hold that position or job role.

The word appointment means the exercising of the right or power to designate a person or persons for a given position or job. Only the person or body that has the authority to appoint someone can do so.

Can they be used interchangeably?

In some situations, the two words ‘Nominated’ and ‘Appointed’ can be used interchangeably. In this example, “The board has nominated three members to the forum”, the term nominated is used in the same way the word appointed can be used. Hence you can also rewrite it as “The board has appointed three members in the forum”, In this case, the board uses its powers to nominate/appoint the members.

The process of nominating and appointing

Consider this case of using the words ‘nominate’ and ‘appoint’. To nominate can simply mean to suggest the name as a candidate for a position or job. If there are more than one nominees, one of them will have to be eventually appointed through the appropriate official proceedings. The person who is selected or elected from the list of nominated candidates will then have to be appointed for the said position or role. In this case, we can say the process of nomination precedes the process of appointment. In the above case, nomination can mean ‘suggesting’ or ‘recommending’ and appointment can mean ‘selecting’ or ‘electing’.

In the political context

During general elections, we come across these two words ‘nomination’ and ‘appointment’. Before the elections, political parties nominate their candidates. The nominated candidate will then submit their application to the election commission. The election omission will review the application and decide if the candidate is qualified enough to contest for the given position. In this context, the appointment comes much later when the candidate contests in the election, gets elected and then goes to the assembly or parliament. By winning the election process, the candidate earns the eligibility to be appointed as an MLA or MP. IN this case, the act of appointment concludes the process which started with the nomination.

Legal usage

In some legal scenarios, the words ‘nominate’ and ‘appoint’ can mean the same thing. For example, you can nominate or appoint a person to execute your will or to make crucial decisions with regard to your health if you are not in a position to do so. In this case, you have the power to make the final decision to appoint or nominate the said person to act on your behalf. You do not make a suggestion that will have to be approved by someone.