You can update views and permissions so that approval is required before records are put in the "active" environment. For example, maybe you want to review new "people" records before they are added to you "active database" or maybe you want to review blog posts or news before they go live. You can assign it so that groups or users have draft only rights...
In Users/Group you click on "manage view permissions"
and then click on "Version Mode" and choose the option you want.
You can also set the VersionMode in the view XML if you prefer.
To view pending drafts. Either...