Powers of the Whips
- Both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republican and Democratic parties have a member of their party who they internally appoint to be the whip. Each party has a different method for appointing their whip. This official is usually an older, veteran party member who commands the respect of the party. The main function of the whip is to ensure party members appear for votes and vote in line with the decisions of leadership.
- Whips try to enforce the overall strategy of the party and therefore work with members of their party to ensure they show up for meetings and votes, and vote how the party needs them to vote. Because some members will inevitably fall ill or have other personal issues arise, party members can look to the whip to offer counsel on how to best proceed with regards to their voting obligations and personal affairs.
- The whip oversees many party functions. Along with enforcing votes and attendance, whips also create a list of which Congress members of their party will speak on motions or bills, and submits this list to the speaker. The main reason an older party member is chosen to be whip is because he must know the rules regarding conduct on floor of Congress.
- The whip, as a political office, originates in the Parliamentary system of Great Britain. The term comes from fox hunting, and refers to the member of the hunting party who whips the dogs into a pack and points them in the direction of the fox. In the British Parliament, deviating from the dictates of the party on a vote is unthinkable, and is equal to turning your back on your party members. The United States adopted the whip in 1899 for the House of Representatives, and 1913 for the Senate.
