Standing between the hullabaloo of last week's nomination and the day former Gov. Ed Schafer takes the reins as agriculture secretary is a constitutional process known as "advise and consent."

The Senate confirmation process, as it's more commonly referred to, requires majority approval by a Senate committee and the full Senate. It's a gauntlet that presidential nominees have had to walk since the country's founding, claiming its first victim in 1795 when President George Washington's nomination of George Rutledge to the Supreme Court was turned down.

For Schafer, the process begins in the Senate Agriculture Committee, where he will be introduced by the North Dakota delegation.

"It is generally a tradition that the home state senators introduce the nominee at the hearing, and we will likely be doing that," said Sen. Byron Dorgan, referring to himself and Sen. Kent Conrad.

Then, senators on the committee will quiz Schafer about his views on everything from crop subsidy programs to country of origin labeling for meat. If approved there, his name will be presented to the full body for a vote.

Schafer's confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled, but it will likely come amid the background of conflict between the Senate and the White House over the farm bill. This week, the Senate is debating a comprehensive agriculture policy package that deals with crop subsidies, conservation programs, food stamp programs, and just about everything else that the U.S. Department of Agriculture comes in contact with.

President Bush - whose policies Schafer would become an advocate for - has threatened to veto the Senate's farm bill. He has said it is too expensive and could endanger World Trade Organization talks.

Schafer's stance on the issue will likely remain unclear until his confirmation hearings. He has not returned messages left on his cell phone by the Tribune over the last week.

Alex Conant, a spokesman for the White House, said Schafer is barred from talking to the press until he's confirmed. Conant said this is a longstanding White House practice meant to show respect for the Senate process by not having it pre-empted in the press.

Judging from history, Schafer's nomination will not be in great jeopardy during the Senate process. According to a 2003 report from the Congressional Research Service, about 99 percent of presidential nominees are confirmed.

Since the nation's founding, the Senate has confirmed more than 500 nominations, according to data from the Senate Web site.

Conant said the White House would like its agriculture secretary position filled as soon as possible.

"It's an important post and we're eager to get it filled with the farm bill considered right now," he said.

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 223-8482 or jonathan.rivoli@bismarcktribune.com)