Resolutions expressing Parliamentary approval of every Treaty before ratification would be a very cumbersome form of procedure and would burden the House with a lot of unnecessary business. The absence of disapproval may be accepted as sanction, and publicity and opportunity for discussion and criticism are the really material and valuable elements which henceforth will be introduced.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Approving every treaty before ratification would be cumbersome; lack of disapproval can be taken as sanction, while publicity and discussion remain valuable.
- In plain terms
- Voting on every treaty would be burdensome; not rejecting can imply approval, but discussion is still important.
- What can you take from it?
- Selective approval processes can reduce workload while preserving debate.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What are risks of assuming consent from silence?
- How can we balance efficiency with thorough review?
Another view
Relying on silence as sanction may overlook genuine concerns.
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