Advocacy Glossary
Whip
What does whip mean?
A whip is a party leader whose job is to count votes and persuade members to vote with the party on important bills.
Why it matters for advocates
Each party in each chamber has a whip team. Before a big vote, they ask members how they plan to vote and work on anyone undecided.
The whip count is the most honest picture of where a bill stands. If leadership is not bringing a bill to the floor, it often means the whip count came up short.
Related terms
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