Several of the Democratic appointees say in private that they suspect the Republicans are only pretending to want a drug benefit.

But if the panel has fewer Democratic appointees, her chances decline.

In criminal appeals, Republican and Democratic appointees do not differ.

Contrary to the stereotype, Democratic appointees are not "softer on crime."

A Democratic appointee, meanwhile, shows the same tendency in the opposite ideological direction.

He joined the five Democratic appointees in deciding not to rehear the three cases.

On sensitive issues, he would need the vote of at least one Democratic appointee.

Democratic appointees worry that the savings cannot be achieved without depriving the beneficiaries.

The remainder of the panel is evenly divided between Republican and Democratic appointees.

Democratic appointees have been more sympathetic to consumer protection regulations, for example, than their Republican counterparts.