While the Board of Health did approve the trans-fat ban, the City Council later voted 47-1 to incorporate the ban into the administrative code, providing express legislative approval of the board's actions.

WSJ: Judge Halts New York City Soda Ban

Many White House proposals to reduce the deficit, such as an overhaul of the tax code or eliminating certain Pentagon projects, require congressional approval.

WSJ: U.S. to Pull Plug on 137 Federal Data Centers

In practice, agreement on a voluntary code of conduct, which would probably need unanimous approval, may prove no easier to reach than agreement on the energy-tax directive.

ECONOMIST: European Union