minority whip
Smaller party's disciplinarian
The minority whip is the second-ranking member of the minority party in a legislative body, particularly the U.S.
House of Representatives or Senate.
The whip's job is to count votes, enforce party discipline, and ensure members show up for important votes.
The term "whip" comes from British fox hunting, where the whipper-in keeps the hounds together: The minority whip worked to unite her caucus against the bill.
- party caucusLegislators' internal planning meeting
- roll call voteVoting by individual announcement
- party lineOfficial political position
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- negotiation tacticsStrategic approaches during deals
power play · party discipline · party platform · lobbying efforts · ranking member · parliamentarian · arm-twisting · backroom deal · behind closed doors · smoke-filled room · vote counting · conflict resolution · factionalism · persuasive rhetoric · committee chair · speaker of the house · amendment process · coalition building
- legislaturebill, senators, senator, state legislature, legislators
- Legislative LeadersSpeaker of the House, Senate leader, majority leader, floor leader, House leader
- legislatorslegislator, lawmaker, member of parliament, state senator, assemblyman
- political oppositionopposition party, opposition leader, loyal opposition, shadow cabinet, shadow government
- Party Leadershipparty leader, floor leader, opposition leader, conference chair
minority whipminority leader
Heads the smaller party
backbencher · party leader · Speaker of the House · floor leader · party chair
minority, whip, minor, minors, minorities, minoring, minored, whips, whipped