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I'm looking for a word to describe an action, such as a vote by the board, that's required, but not meaningful because the issue is already settled, or the vote cannot but go a particular way. Just for show. Ceremonial. Something like that.

  • The proceedings were meaningless, just a _____.
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    Depending on the context, it might be either a "formality" or a "shibboleth".
    – user888379
    Commented Sep 4 at 22:02
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    There's also "rubber stamp".
    – Barmar
    Commented Sep 4 at 22:09
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    'Meaningless ritual' is a relevant fixed phrase. Power Thesaurus only offers mulii-word synonyms.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Sep 4 at 22:24
  • 'de rigueur', or 'going through the motions'.
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Sep 4 at 22:35
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    Ceremonial and perfunctory are good, too. Especially ceremonial.
    – Xanne
    Commented Sep 4 at 23:06

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You could call it a formality, defined by AHD as:

An established form, rule, or custom, especially one followed merely for the sake of procedure or decorum.

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    To insist on the lack of importance of the action, one may say that it was just a mere formality.
    – Graffito
    Commented Sep 5 at 9:21

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