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In parliamentary procedure, 'unanimous consent' is a situation in which no one present objects. The chair may state, for instance: "If there is no objection, the motion will be adopted. [pause] Since there is no objection, the motion is adopted." 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."
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.
Unanimous consent can also be used not only to pass motions but to delay proceedings, adopt bills or (in the United States Senate) to confirm nominees to the United States federal courts, or the cabinet or to ratify treaties.
The fact that a bill, treaty or nomination passes by unanimous consent does not necessarily mean that every member of the body would have voted in favor of the issue. Sometimes it is just used as a time-saving device, especially at the end of the session and sometimes the two sides won't want a formal recorded vote on the issue for a variety of reasons, or the opposing side may know that they would lose such a vote and not feel a need to take the time.