Generally, in a meeting of a deliberative assembly, business is conducted using a formal procedure of motion, debate, and vote.
[1][2][3][4][5] The procedure of asking for unanimous consent is used to expedite business by eliminating the need for formal votes on routine questions in which the existence of a consensus is likely.
[1] In non-legislative deliberative bodies operating under Robert's Rules of Order, unanimous consent is often used to expedite the consideration of uncontroversial motions.
[10] Unanimous consent merely requires that no representative of those present has asked to take a recorded vote or has requested quorum verification.
For example, in disciplinary procedures, a single member can require the vote on the imposition of a penalty to be taken by ballot.
[9] Sometimes unanimous consent can be assumed if the chair perceives that no one would raise an objection if they formally asked.
The objector may have no disagreement with the proposal at issue, but chooses to object in order to force a time-consuming formal vote, which may include a period of debate as well.
[17] In this special case of unanimous consent, the only way to object to the approval of the minutes is to offer a correction to it.
[18] In this special case of unanimous consent, the only way to object to the election of a candidate is to nominate and vote for someone else.
If a member asks for leave to be granted to do something that is different from the rules, a single objection can defeat the request.