What does "ratification" mean regarding agent actions?

Ratification in the context of agent actions refers to the approval of an unauthorized act by an agent, thereby making it legally binding. When a principal ratifies an agent’s act, they are agreeing to be bound by the actions taken by the agent even if those actions were not initially authorized. This approval legitimizes the agent's previous actions, converting them into valid and enforceable transactions as if they had been authorized from the start.

In practice, ratification serves to protect both the principal and the agent by ensuring that actions taken by the agent, which may initially fall outside the scope of authority, can still be accepted and made effective if the principal chooses to endorse them. Thus, if a principal learns of an agent's unauthorized act and decides to accept it, that choice constitutes ratification. This concept is crucial in agency law as it allows for flexibility in representations and actions taken on behalf of a principal.