Unanimous Consent

Proceedings of the House and Senate and action on legislation often take place upon the unanimous consent of the chamber. A unanimous consent request, as its name implies, can be blocked by a single objection.

Almost anything can be accomplished by unanimous consent. Both chambers use it to expedite floor action. Besides considering noncontroversial matters by unanimous consent, the Senate also uses a complex device called a unanimous consent agreement to govern the consideration of most major legislation.

Minor matters in both chambers also are frequently handled by unanimous consent. A senator or representative will say, “I ask unanimous consent that…” and make a request. A legislator might ask to add additional material to the congressional record, or seek permission to have a staff aide on the floor during debate. Such requests are handled routinely, and objections are extremely rare.