[20020212]RS20499_众议院领导层：鞭打组织.pdf

1 In the last 25 years, the Republican whip position was contested twice: in 1980, when then Rep.Trent Lott defeated Rep. Bud Shuster (96-90); and, in 1989, when Rep. Newt Gingrich defeated(continued.)Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20499Updated February 12, 2002House Leadership: Whip Organizationname redactedSpecialist on the CongressGovernment and Finance DivisionThe whip system performs two primary functions: to take responsibility for themobilization of party Members for key votes and to serve as a conduit for informationbetween party leaders and party Members. Role and ResponsibilityVote Mobilization. The chief responsibility of the whip is to “count heads.” Thewhips help their respective party leaders keep track of the whereabouts of Members inorder to assist in the scheduling of legislation, in the case of the majority, or in the planningof opposition tactics, in the case of the minority. Whips also “whip up” support for a party position. They try to build voting coalitionsfrom disparate groups of party Members. They work with the other party leaders tofashion legislation that party Members