Whip (politics)

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In politics, a whip is a member of a political party in a legislature whose task is to ensure that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires. The term originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and derives from the "whipper-in" at a fox hunt.

Whip is also used to mean:

• the voting instructions issued to members by the Whip^[1]
• in Britain, to a party's endorsement of a member of parliament - as in to 'withdraw the whip', meaning to expel an MP from his political party (the elected member in question would retain his or her seat).

Contents 1 Whip in Australian politics 2 Whip in British politics 3 Whip in Canadian politics 4 Whip in European Union politics 5 Whip in Indian politics 6 Whip in Malaysian politics 7 Whip in United States politics 7.1 Whips in the 110th Congress 8 Notes and references

Whip in Australian politics

In the Parliament of Australia and in the Parliaments of the six states and two self-governing territories, all the political parties have whips to ensure party discipline and carry out a variety of other functions on behalf of the party leadership. The most important function of the whips' office is to ensure that all Members and Senators are present to take part in votes in the Chamber. Unlike in the United Kingdom Parliament, government whips do not hold official office, but they are recognised for parliamentary purposes and enjoy certain privileges in the Chamber. The Speaker addresses them as "Chief Government Whip" and "Chief Opposition Whip." However, Australian whips in practice play a much lesser role than in the United Kingdom, since party discipline in Australia is much tighter and genuine threats to cross the floor are much rarer.

In the House of Representatives, the Chief Government Whip is Kerry Bartlett and the Chief Opposition Whip is Roger Price. The Government Whips are appointed by the Prime Minister in his capacity as Leader of the Liberal Party (that is, they are party appointments not government appointments). The Opposition Whips are elected by the Australian Labor Party Caucus. Each Chief Whip is assisted by two Deputy Whips. On the government side one of the Deputy Whips is always the National Party whip.

In the Senate the Government Whip was Senator Jeannie Ferris (who died on 2 April 2007) and the Opposition Whip is Senator George Campbell.

Similar arrangements exist in the state and territory Parliaments.

Whip in British politics

See Chief Whip

Whip in Canadian politics

See Chief Government Whip (Canada)

Whip in European Union politics

The European Parliament's political groups such as the Socialist or EPP-ED groups have a whip, but the position is not a powerful one. Individual national delegations which are part of the larger party grouping may also have their own whips. For example the UK delegation in the Socialist Group, made up of 19 Labour MEPs has its own whip, the position currently being filled by Glenis Willmott, an East Midlands MEP who was elected to the post in 2006.

Whip in Indian politics

In India, the concept of the whip was inherited from colonial British rule.

Whip in Malaysian politics

See Chief Whip (Malaysia).

Whip in United States politics

Both houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and Senate, have majority and minority whips. They in turn have subordinate "regional" whips. While members of Congress often vote along party lines, the influence of the whip is weaker than in the UK system. For one thing, much money is raised by individual candidates, and members of congress are almost never ejected from a party. Also, a whip in the United States cannot bargain with a congressman by denying promotion to a rank. Whips in the United States are also less violent in their techniques than the United Kingdom. That said, stepping too far outside the party's platform can limit political ambitions or ability to obtain favorable legislation.

In the Senate, the Majority Whip is the third or fourth highest-ranking individual in the majority party (the party with the greater number of legislators in a legislative body). The Majority Whip is outranked by the Majority Leader, the President Pro Tempore and, if the majority also holds the executive branch, the President of the Senate. Because the office of President Pro Tempore is largely honorific, usually given to the senior senator of the majority, and the President of the Senate only acts in cases of a tie, the Majority Leader holds considerably more power than his or her House counterpart and so by extension an argument could be made that the Majority Whip is the second ranking individual in terms of actual power. Similarly, in the House the Majority Whip is outranked by both the Majority Leader and the Speaker.

In both the House and the Senate, the Minority Whip is the second highest-ranking individual in the minority party (the party with the lesser number of legislators in a legislative body), outranked only by the Minority Leader.

Whips in the 110th Congress

The Senate Majority Whip for the 110th Congress is Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois, who reported to the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada.

The Senate Minority Whip for the 110th Congress is Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, who reported to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

The House Majority Whip for the 110th Congress is Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, who reported to the new House Majority Leader, Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland, and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi of California.

The House Minority Whip for the 110th Congress is Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, who reported to the new House Minority Leader, Representative John Boehner of Ohio.

Notes and references

1. ^ Pandiyan, M. Veera (May 14, 2006). How the term 'Whip' came to be used in Parliament. The Star (Malaysia).

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