As the Majority Whip, Congressman Roy Blunt, performs three primary functions: mobilizing the vote on key Republican legislative objectives, providing information to Members and leadership, coordinating strategy within the House.
Mobilizing the Vote
Before a major vote comes to the floor, the Whip polls Members on their support of the legislation. The Whip ensures that the Republican leadership position has strong support.
Distributing Information
The Whip provides information to Members such as the upcoming schedule of legislation. The Whip's office distributes weekly Whip Notice and the daily Whipping Post to the Members of the House, which lists the anticipated legislation on the floor. In addition to the Whip Notice and Whipping Post, the Whip's office also distributes the House calendar which lists the days of the year that the House of Representatives is expected to be in session.
Coordinating Strategy
The Whip coordinates strategy and scheduling with the Speaker and Majority Leader on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Whip is expected to "get out the vote," by ensuring that Members will be present on the floor during close votes. The Whip is largely responsible for coordinating voting strategy among the party members to ensure final passage.
History
The term "whipper in" is a British term for the person responsible for keeping the foxhounds from leaving the pack. It was first used in the House of Commons in the late 1700s and in the House of Representatives in 1897, when James A. Tawney (R-Minn.) was appointed a whip by Speaker Thomas Reed (R-Maine) to help Reed keep track of the whereabouts of party Members.
