unanimous consent - A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to
set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no
Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator
objects, the request is rejected. Unanimous consent requests with only
immediate effects are routinely granted, but ones affecting the floor
schedule, the conditions of considering a bill or other business, or the
rights of other senators, are normally not offered, or a floor leader will
object to it, until all senators concerned have had an opportunity to inform
the leaders that they find it acceptable.