crossing the floor
Changing political allegiance
Crossing the floor is when a legislator switches political parties or votes against their own party on a major issue.
The floor is the chamber where lawmakers sit, divided by party; to cross it is to defect to the other side.
The term is most common in parliamentary systems like Britain, Canada, and Australia: She crossed the floor after disagreeing with her party's stance on healthcare.
A floor-crosser may face accusations of betrayal or opportunism.
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
- supermajorityVote exceeding simple majority
- minority governmentGoverning party holding fewer seats
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- motion of no confidenceLegislative call to remove leadership
legislative session · realignment · betrayal · ideology · vote · ideological shift · political · dissent · voice vote · factionalism · abstention · resignation · filibuster · compromise · reconciliation · electoral strategy · pivoting · parliamentary debate
- UK PoliticsHouse of Commons, House of Lords, MP, Tory, Downing Street
- defectiondefection, defect, defector, turncoat, desertion
- parliamentparliament, bills, votes, vote, debate
crossing the floorparty loyalty
Commitment to one's faction
party discipline · falling in line · party unity · bloc voting · rubber-stamping
crossing the floorgoing along to get along
Conforming to maintain relationships
cross, crossing, crossings, crossed, crosses, crosser, floor, floors, floored