Ratification
Ratification is the process of adopting a constitution or other nationally binding document (such as an amendment to a constitution) by the agreement of multiple subnational entities. This process is most commonly observed in federations such as the United States or confederations such as the European Union.
Different organizations have different rules for how a change is ratified. Federations usually require the support of both the federal government and a certain percentage of the subsidiary entities. Some ratification processes also require a supermajority within legislatures.
Ratification of the United States Constitution
See Constitution of the United States.
Ratification of the European Union Treaty
In some parts of Europe, the Convention and its resulting constitution received little public attention until December 2003, when European heads of state met (14 December) to finalise the document. Elsewhere, the text was the subject of some controversy, during 2003 in the United Kingdom, where its opponents see it as the start of moves towards a federal European superstate. On April 20, 2004, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair surprisingly announced that the treaty would be subject to a referendum in the United Kingdom.
Ireland
The ratification of the current Constitution of Ireland was achieved by plebiscite in 1937.
See also: Amendment
