Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty

International Idea
The institution of the party whip is at the heart of the business of how political
parties influence members of government and parliamentary behaviour. The African
whip system is inherited from the Westminster system, and whips therefore have an
important role in party business within parliament, particularly when the voting
strengths of the main parties are close. For important votes it is imperative for
government and opposition to maximize MPs’ turnout, and the whips try to ensure
that every member from their party turns out to vote. The duties of whips include:
• keeping MPs and peers informed of forthcoming parliamentary business;
• maintaining the party’s voting strength by ensuring that members attend
important debates and support their party in parliamentary divisions; and
• passing on to the party leadership the opinions of back-bench members.
The term ‘whip’ also applies to the weekly (in the Westminster tradition) circular
sent out by each chief whip to all his or her MPs notifying them of parliamentary
business. The degree of importance of each item of business is indicated by the
number of times the debate or division is underlined. Items underlined once are
considered routine and attendance is optional. Those underlined twice are more
important and attendance is required unless (in the British House of Commons, the
lower house of Parliament) a ‘pair’ (a member of the opposition who also intends to
be absent from the division) has been arranged. Items underlined three times are
highly important and pairing is not normally allowed.
Three-line whips are imposed on important occasions, such as second readings of
significant bills and motions of no confidence. Failure by MPs to attend a vote with
a three-line whip is usually seen as a rebellion against the party and may result in
disciplinary action, such as suspension from the parliamentary party.
Most countries that use the Westminster system have whip structures similar to
those described for the British Parliament: the whips consist of the chief whip and, in
the three main parties, the deputy chief whip and a varying number of junior whips.
Each of the smaller opposition parties also normally has a whip.
The government chief whip is directly answerable to the prime minister. S/he attends
the Cabinet and makes the day-to-day arrangements for the government’s programme
of business. The opposition chief whip receives advance notice of the government’s
business programme each week, and no final decision is taken by the government
until after consultation with him or her. The chief whips together constitute the
‘usual channels’, often referred to when the question of finding time for debating a
particular issue is discussed.
Party Structures and Internal Organization