<P> A whip is an official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature . Whips are the party's "enforcers"; they invite their fellow legislators to attend voting sessions and to vote according to the official party policy . The term is taken from the "whipper - in" during a hunt, who tries to prevent the hounds from wandering away from the pack . </P> <P> Additionally the term "whip" may also mean the voting instructions issued to members by the whip, or the status of a certain legislator in their party's parliamentary grouping . </P>

What does the house of representatives whip do