Today@NCCapitol (Jan. 31, 2017): Senate sets up gauntlet for gubernatorial nominees

"We will just go over ... and have a discussion of how we will go through the committee, what we will be asking and not asking – just the general groundwork and rules," said committee Chairman Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick.

No confirmation hearings are expected during the first hearing.

Rabon did say that the committee would likely be the first of two stops for most nominees.

After getting an initial nod from the select committee, nominees would then go before the standing committee with subject-matter jurisdiction of their department. So, for example, the nominee for Health and Human Services would likely visit both the Nominations Committee and make a second stop at the Senate Health Committee before getting a vote on the floor.

"The committee has not seen or discussed that, but yes, that is our plan," Rabon said. "Our plan is for the name to come to the select committee, for the select committee to look through the credentials and then pass that along to the standing committee that deals with that subject area."

At a news conference last week, Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue said he had discussed the confirmation process with his Republicans colleagues and didn't have initial objections.

"I'm comfortable with the way it's developing," Blue, D-Wake, said last week. "From what I was told, the way it's being designed, I think it will be a workable thing. Of course, you've got to realize there's litigation pending now that says the whole process is unconstitutional. But it's good to have a standby in case it's not."