What is "party whip"

n. (context politics English) Within a legislative body, a member appointed by a political party and given the authority to ensure that all members of that party participate in voting and vote strictly as directed by the party in all votes where adherence to a party line is required.

n. a legislator appointed by the party to enforce discipline [syn: whip]

In Canada the Party Whip is the member of a political party in the Canadian House of Commons, the Canadian Senate or a provincial legislature charged with ensuring party discipline among members of the caucus. The whip is also responsible for assigning offices and scheduling speakers from his or her party for various bills, motions and other proceedings in the House.

In the Parliament of Malaysia, the political parties appoint party whips to ensure party discipline, help manage legislative business and carry out a variety of other functions on behalf of the party leadership. The most important function of a government party whip is to ensure that sufficient number of members and senators are present to take part in votes in the chamber, and to maintain a parliamentary quorum and to prevent censure motions succeeding. Their roles in the chamber include taking divisions, and arranging pairs which affects the ability of members and senators to leave parliament during sittings, as well as the entitlement to be absent during divisions.

Unlike in the United Kingdom and Australia, Barisan Nasional whips always hold office of Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia as well as the deputy leader of the party. In practice, Malaysian whips play a lesser role than their counterparts in the United Kingdom, as party discipline in Malaysia tends to be tighter. The role of the whip becomes more critical the lower the majority the government has in the lower house of Parliament.

Party whip also exist in the thirteen state assemblies.

In the Parliament of Australia, the political parties appoint party whips to ensure party discipline, help manage legislative business and carry out a variety of other functions on behalf of the party leadership. The most important function of a government party whip is to ensure that sufficient number of members and senators are present to take part in votes in the chamber, and to maintain a parliamentary quorum and to prevent censure motions succeeding. Their roles in the chamber include taking divisions, and arranging pairs which affects the ability of members and senators to leave parliament during sittings, as well as the entitlement to be absent during divisions.

Unlike in the United Kingdom, Australian whips do not hold official office, but they are recognised for parliamentary purposes. In practice, Australian whips play a lesser role than their counterparts in the United Kingdom, as party discipline in Australia tends to be tighter. The role of the whip becomes more critical the lower the majority the government has in the lower house of Parliament.

Liberal Party whips are appointed by the leader of the party, while Australian Labor Party whips are elected by the Caucus. For Labor and the Liberals, the chief whip is assisted by two deputy whips.

Similar arrangements exist in the six state and the two self-governing territory parliaments.