What is the function of a "whip" in government?

[jayctravis]

Was reading that Delay was named "House Majority Whip" and I've also seen "minority whip"...

What exactly does this mean?

[jim3775]

1. Wikipedia is your friend

"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."

[Cerridwen]

4. 2 great minds....:-D....... ..........n/t

[MemphisTiger]

5. like a hatchet man for the mob

right?

[Cerridwen]

2. I checked Wikipedia - here ya go

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Majority_Whip


The U.S. Senate Majority Whip is the second ranking member of the United States Senate.

The main function of the Majority (and Minority) Whip is to gather votes on major issues. Because he or she the second ranking member of the Senate, if there is no floor leader present, the whip may become acting floor leader.

The current Senate Majority Whip is Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

[louis-t]

3. Their job is to keep the opposing party in line.

To let it be known if they are breaking rules, cheating, unethical, criminal, etc. The Dem Minority Whip really has his hands full.

edit: I stand corrected.

"A whip works to ensure that his or her party's senators vote as the party leadership desires."

[Atman]

6. Oh, sorry...I thought this was another Jeff Gannon thread

Never mind.

[leftofthedial]

7. Condi uses "the whip" on george

she does both sides

george uses the ball gag

[RedCloud]

8. maybe she should upgrade

to this:

http://www.ashleysextoys.com/store/displayitem.asp?product_id=gwlw202