What does 'ratify' mean?

What does 'ratify' mean?

• A. To withdraw from a treaty
• B. To formally confirm that the country intends to be bound by the treaty
• C. To sign a declaration
• D. To amend a treaty

Answer: (B)

Ratify means giving formal approval to be legally bound by a treaty. After negotiations and signature, a country typically must go through domestic processes to consent to the treaty, and once the instrument of ratification is deposited, the country is obliged under international law to follow its terms. This is different from merely signing, which is usually a preliminary endorsement and does not create binding obligations. It also isn’t about withdrawing from or amending a treaty—those actions have their own terms and processes. So ratification is the formal step that turns agreement into enforceable obligation.

Ratify means giving formal approval to be legally bound by a treaty. After negotiations and signature, a country typically must go through domestic processes to consent to the treaty, and once the instrument of ratification is deposited, the country is obliged under international law to follow its terms. This is different from merely signing, which is usually a preliminary endorsement and does not create binding obligations. It also isn’t about withdrawing from or amending a treaty—those actions have their own terms and processes. So ratification is the formal step that turns agreement into enforceable obligation.