The Tenure of Office Act was a law passed by the United States Congress in 1867. It was primarily aimed at limiting the powers of President Andrew Johnson, who was in conflict with Congress over Reconstruction policies following the Civil War. The act stated that the President could not remove federal officials from office without the consent of the Senate, if the position originally required Senate approval for appointment. It was designed to prevent Johnson from firing officials who supported Congress' Reconstruction policies and replace them with individuals who would carry out his own policies. The act was eventually declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1926.
