Fast track refers to the practice of making use of a process which is accelerated in comparison to the one in typical use. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term's first published use was in an April 1976 Business Week article, where it referred to the construction industry's practice of beginning construction before design was complete.

In Ecuador, economic legislation can be fast-tracked by declaring it an emergency bill. Such a bill, sent by the President to Congress, automatically becomes law after thirty days if it is not voted down by Congress. Important bills have slipped through this way, including the August 2000 'Law to Promote Investment and Citizen Participation', later declared partially unconstitutional.

Fast track has more narrow meanings with respect to the federal government of the United States.

• For trade agreements, it refers to the authority that the President has to negotiate agreements that Congress can approve or disapprove but cannot amend. It was in effect from 1975 to 1994 and led to the adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It was restored in 2002 by the Trade Act of 2002.
• The Food and Drug Administration can fast track the approval of experimental drugs, such as experimental cancer treatments, that treat a serious or life-threatening medical condition for which no other drug either exists or works as well. As an example, the drug that lessens peanut allergies, TNX-901, received fast track status during its testing, even though other products exist to reduce allergic symptoms in general.