Elections decide how the parties are represented in the national parliament and in the state or regional parliaments. The government needs a parliamentarian majority and that is why the ruling party and/or the parties in a government coalition work closely together. In contrast, the opposition parties keep a check on the government and present constructive alternatives to the projects of the government and the government parties (Hofmeister and Grabow 2011: 69).
Parliamentary Groups (Factions)
The elected representatives of the respective parties constitute that party’s factions in parliament. Party headquarters and faction leaders usually form a close group and are united through their political goals. Although conflicts can happen, sustained conflicts between a party headquarters and its parliamentary faction occur only in rare cases. The ‘floor leaders’ (leaders of a parliamentary group or faction) usually have a major influence in their party. Beside their parliamentary tasks, they also have to contribute to reducing tensions between the party and its parliamentary faction.
Solidarity and discipline within a faction are necessary. However, a permanent obligation for all the parliamentarians of a party to obey their whips cannot be always be relied on. Most democratic constitutions in the world guarantee the “free mandate” of the parliamentarians. In many cases, party ‘whips’, “orders” or “instructions” from a party to its parliamentarians are unconstitutional.
There are other incentives for parliamentarians to adhere to party discipline. Importantly, if a parliamentarian wants to stand again as a candidate in parliament, he or she will need the support of the party to be considered in the candidates list and to be supported by the party in his campaign. Consequently, parliamentarians in most countries generally follow the line of their party faction (Hofmeister and Grabow 2011: 71).
| Party Whip A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party’s “enforcers”, who typically offer induce- ments and threaten party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy. A whip’s role is also to ensure that the elected representatives of their party are in attendance when important votes are taken. |
There are other incentives for parliamentarians to adhere to party discipline. Importantly, if a parliamentarian wants to stand again as a candidate in parliament, he or she will need the support of the party to be considered in the candidates list and to be supported by the party in his campaign. Consequently, parliamentarians in most countries generally follow the line of their party faction (Hofmeister and Grabow 2011: 71).