WASHINGTON —The Senate yesterday approved the nomination of Ben Bernanke to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, the most influential economic policy job in the world.

Bernanke, 52, was cleared on a voice vote after a short debate in the chamber amid strong bipartisan support.

He succeeds Alan Greenspan, 79, who retired yesterday after 18 1/2 years, making him the second-longest serving chairman at the central bank.

"We believe that Dr. Bernanke will serve this country well at the helm of the Federal Reserve," said Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., in remarks on the Senate floor before the vote.

Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., observed: "There's no question about Dr. Bernanke's qualifications for the position. ... He commands great respect from his peers in the profession and I think great respect from all who have come in contact with him."

Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., was the only senator requesting to be recorded as voting against the nomination. Bunning cited concerns that Bernanke would be too much in Greenspan's mold.

"Sadly, I have not seen very much evidence of him being independent," Bunning said.

A former Fed governor and Princeton economic professor, Bernanke, chairman of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, was tapped by President Bush in October for the Fed post.

Bernanke must be sworn in before he takes over as the chairman of the Fed. A private swearing-in ceremony will take place today at the Federal Reserve, the central bank said in a statement.

Bernanke will lead the Fed at a time when the U.S. economy faces challenges, including bloated budget and trade deficits, the question of whether the high-flying housing market will make a safe landing and the toll that high energy prices will have on business activity, household budgets and inflation.

The handling of monetary policy under a Bernanke-run Fed — at least early on — is not expected to be much different from the Fed under Greenspan. Both men share a similar philosophy in terms of the importance of fighting inflation, preparing for remote but dangerous economic risks, and keeping the economy on an even keel while nurturing job creation.

And analysts say, Bernanke — like Greenspan — will work to make sure the Fed remains free from political influence. That's crucially important for the Fed to have credibility in the eyes of investors and central bankers around the world.