Unanimous consent Totally Explained

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In parliamentary procedure, unanimous consent, also known as general consent, or in the case of the parliaments under the Westminster system, leave of the house, is a situation in which no one present objects to a proposal. The chair may state, for instance: "If there's no objection, the motion will be adopted. [pause] Since there's no objection, the motion is adopted" or in Westminster parliaments, "There being no objection, leave is granted." On the most routine matters, such as inserting an article into the Congressional Record, the chair may shorten this statement to four words: "Without objection, so ordered" or even to two words: "Without objection." If no member objects then the motion is adopted, but if any member does declare his opposition then the motion isn't adopted and can't be agreed to without a vote. Unanimous consent can greatly expedite business by eliminating the need for formal votes on matters such as routine procedural questions in which the existence of a consensus is likely. The principle behind it's that procedural safeguards designed to protect a minority can be waived when there's no minority to protect.
   The fact that a bill, treaty or nomination passes by unanimous consent doesn't necessarily mean that every member of the body would have voted in favor of the proposal. Sometimes it's just used as a time-saving device, especially at the end of the session. Sometimes members don't want a formal recorded vote on the issue, or the knows that it would lose such a vote and not feel a need to take the time. Conversely, raising an objection doesn't necessarily imply that the objector disagrees with the proposal itself; he may simply believe it would be better to take a formal vote.
   In non-legislative deliberative bodies operating under Robert's Rules of Order, the unanimous consent device is often used to expedite the procedural consideration of uncontroversial secondary motions.
   Sometimes unanimous consent can be assumed if the chair perceives that no one would raise an objection if he formally asked. For instance, if it's obvious that the members of an assembly are absorbed in listening to a speaker who has exceeded the time limits on debate, but is about to conclude his remarks, the chair may allow him to continue without interruption.
   Certain rights of the minority can only be waived by unanimous consent. For example, in disciplinary procedures, "a single member can require the vote on the imposition of a penalty to be taken by ballot."

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