whipped vote

English

Noun

whipped vote (plural whipped votes)

1. (politics) In the Westminster parliamentary system, a vote by members of a legislative body in which the members are strictly required to vote as directed by the leadership of their political party.
   • 2008 March 24, “PM Under Fire Over Hybrid Embryo Row”, in Sky News, UK, retrieved 31 May 2011:

     Any minister who failed to support it in a whipped vote would be expected to resign.

   • 2010 September 13, “Pro-gun registry side gains another NDP vote”, in CBC News, Canada, retrieved 31 May 2011:

     Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has called for a whipped vote, and the party says all 77 Liberals will vote to kill the bill.

   • 2011 May 2, Kate Malloy, “Advice from a veteran politico”, in Hill Times, Canada, retrieved 31 May 2011:

     The lowest part of her political career was following the Liberal government's whipped vote to limit compensation to hepatitis C victims in 1998.

Antonyms

• conscience vote, free vote

See also

• party whip