Each party appoint Whips from the MPs or the Lords and they organize the party’s contribution to parliamentary business. One of the most important function of the Whips is to assure the maximum number of their party members vote and also vote the way their party wants.
Other responsibilities of the Whips
Whips usually act as Tellers. They are responsible to maintain the relation between the members of the house and members in the opposition. Whips also arrange the business of the Parliament. These are usually known as ‘the usual channels’.
The Whip
The circulars that the whips send out every week are judged in order of their importance by the number of times they are underlined. The most important sections are underlined three times. They are known as ‘three-line whips’.
Three Line Whips
If a three line whip is refused, it is considered to be very serious. Many – a – times, in such cases, the whip is withdrawn from the MP or Lord. Cases like this result in expelling the concerned member from the party to which he belongs. He has to sit as an independent MP till the time his whip is restored.
Whips and Small majorities
The Whips job become easier if the majority of the party in government is small. In such cases, the government also lose in majority votes. The Whips have to try and get as many members to vote as possible.
