Final answer:
The terms of an agency relationship are ratified in a formal agreement, and for constitutional amendments, ratification occurs when legislatures of three-fourths of the States approve the amendment. Executive agreements sometimes replace treaties and have different ratification processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms of an agency relationship are typically ratified in a formal agreement or contract where the faculties of the authorized representatives are recognized. The ratification process involves agreeing to the contract's terms, which is then executed by the parties involved. In terms of amending the U.S. Constitution, ratification takes place when the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States approve an amendment within a specified deadline, such as seven years from the date of its submission by Congress.
In international law, ratification can assume different formats. For example, the U.S. Constitution articulates the treaty process in Article II, but a large proportion of international agreements are now entered into as executive agreements rather than treaties. These do not always require ratification in the same manner, often being approved by a simple majority or solely by the executive branch. Cases like United States v. Pink clarify the legal equivalency of executive agreements to treaties, provided they do not conflict with federal law. Therefore, ratification can occur in different contexts and under varying rules, but always serves as the formal adoption or approval of an agreement or amendment.