Whip

In politics, a Whip is an member of a political party grouping in a legislature whose task is to ensure that members of the party attend and vote together. The term originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and derives from the "whipper-in" at a fox hunt. Whip is also used to mean the voting instructions issued to members by the Whip.

The Government Chief Whip[?] in the British House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet and has the title Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury.

In the UK Parliament the importance of a vote is indicated by underlining of items on the whip paper. Disregarding a "three-line whip" is a serious matter and may result in "withdrawal of the whip", which is a form of expulsion from the party.