Legal Definitions - ratification

Definition: Ratification is the process of officially approving or confirming something. It is the act of making a treaty, agreement, or law valid by giving it formal approval.

Example: When the United States Constitution was written, it needed to be ratified by at least nine of the thirteen states before it could become the law of the land. The process of ratification involved each state holding a convention to debate and vote on whether or not to approve the Constitution.

Explanation: The example illustrates how ratification is the formal approval of a document or law. In this case, the Constitution was not considered valid until it was ratified by the required number of states. The process of ratification ensured that the Constitution had the support of the people and the states before it became the supreme law of the land.