In the United States, judges at the federal level are selected by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. State judges, on the other hand, are selected through a variety of methods, which vary from state to state. In some states, judges are appointed by the governor, while in other states they are elected through either partisan or non-partisan elections. Additionally, some states use a combination of appointment and election processes, or require judges to stand for periodic retention votes after they have been appointed or elected.