What does majority whip mean

Our national legislature has been unpopular for decades, however, which suggests that what disgusts people about Congress has deeper roots. One may be that Americans have an unduly idealistic view of the legislative process. In my ten-plus years of teaching and commenting on American politics, I have encountered many people who believe that Congress is a place where civic-minded individuals should come together to identify pressing problems, listen to outside experts, evaluate possible fixes, and develop compromise solutions in a timely fashion.

This is a nice idea, but Congress has rarely worked that way. Legislators can disagree on issues to such an extent that no compromise is possible. Limited time and resources mean that members of Congress are forced to specialize, deferring most policy decisions to their leaders or colleagues. The bargaining process can take months, even years, before it yields a new law. Elected representatives have strong incentives to focus on their own constituents or party over the collective needs of the country.

These are elements of many legislative bodies, not just the U. Congress, and they have been lamented as long ago as ancient Athens. In the U.

House, Whips have served as a two-way bridge between the leadership and the rank-and-file. Richardson of Tennessee chose Oscar Underwood of Alabama. Incomplete documentation from to , however, have left no official record of the Democratic Whip during most of those years. For much of its history, the Democratic Whip has been appointed by the Democratic Leader.

Beginning with Tony Coelho of California in , the party Whip has been elected by the organizing caucus of Democratic Representatives-elect just prior to the start of a new Congress. If the position becomes vacant during a Congress, a new Whip is elected at a subsequent meeting.

When Democrats are in the majority, the Whip is the third highest position in the caucus, behind the Majority Leader and the Speaker. Minority Whip : Performs duties of whip for the minority party. Members of the minority party elect the Minority Whip.

Pocket Constitution. Sometimes issues are so black and white that a party caucus will all hold together without any influence from leadership. Whipping is the name for deliberate pressure exerted on rank and file members by leadership, so that the member votes the way leadership wants. Unity among Democrats puts pressure on moderate Republicans to come out against their party. There are plenty of tools available to leadership to keep members of their caucus in line.

A good leader will help MoCs get what they want—a vote scheduled on a bill, a committee position, maybe even a spot in leadership—and remember that when it comes time to call in a favor. When a leader has to do more than just make a persuasive policy argument, the difference between successfully whipping an MoC or not can come down to keeping track of these favors, and using some combination of promises and threats to keep MoCs in line.

To schedule a vote on a certain bill when the party is in the majority. To demand a vote on a certain amendment as part of a unanimous consent agreement when the party is in the minority, in the Senate. To vote a certain way on a bill.