Glass
7th November 2011, 02:11 PM
When you look at things closely it is interesting what you can see. I mean really see. To me seeing is knowledge imparting. Things are often right there in front of you and while you might look at them you don't see what's really there.
I was thinking to myself how literal some labels are for many law and political concepts and behaviours. Palani is always coming up with good examples of law/contractural/legal concepts and their historical origins. Origins are very important.
Anyway while thinking the term Whip came to mind. I knew from highschool and hearing on the news that there is a parliamentary Whip in most parliaments and in Congress. There are slight differences but the Whips job is basicaly the same.
The Whip from Wiki: (http://gold-silver.us/forum/When%20you%20look%20at%20things%20closely%20it%20i s%20interesting%20what%20you%20can%20see.%20I%20me an%20really%20see.%20To%20me%20seeing%20is%20knowl edge%20imparting.%20Things%20are%20often%20right%2 0there%20in%20front%20of%20you%20and%20while%20you %20might%20look%20at%20them%20you%20don%27t%20see% 20what%27s%20really%20there.%20%20I%20was%20thinki ng%20to%20myself%20how%20literal%20some%20labels%2 0are%20for%20many%20law%20and%20political%20concep ts%20and%20behaviours.%20Palani%20is%20always%20co ming%20up%20with%20good%20examples%20of%20law/contractural/legal%20concepts%20and%20their%20historical%20orig ins.%20Origins%20are%20very%20important.%20%20Anyw ay%20while%20thinking%20the%20term%20Whip%20came%2 0to%20mind.%20I%20knew%20from%20highschool%20and%2 0hearing%20on%20the%20news%20that%20there%20is%20a %20parliamentary%20Whip%20in%20most%20parliaments% 20and%20in%20Congress.%20There%20are%20slight%20di fferences%20but%20the%20Whips%20job%20is%20basical y%20the%20same.%20%20The%20Whip%20from%20Wiki:%20
A%20whip%20is%20an%20official%20in%20a%20political %20party%20whose%20primary%20purpose%20is%20to%20e nsure%20party%20discipline%20in%20a%20legislature. %20Whips%20are%20a%20party%27s%20%22enforcers%22,% 20who%20typically%20offer%20inducements%20and%20th reaten%20punishments%20for%20party%20members%20to% 20ensure%20that%20they%20vote%20according%20to%20t he%20official%20party%20policy.%20A%20whip%27s%20r ole%20is%20also%20to%20ensure%20that%20the%20elect ed%20representatives%20of%20their%20party%20are%20 in%20attendance%20when%20important%20votes%20are%2 0taken.%20The%20usage%20comes%20from%20the%20hunti ng%20term%20whipping%20in,%20i.e.%20preventing%20h ounds%20from%20wandering%20away%20from%20the%20pac k.%20%20Official%20party%20whips%20are%20almost%20 exclusively%20found%20in%20legislatures%20based%20 on%20first-past-the-post%20electoral%20systems,%20as%20FPTP%20discoura ges%20the%20formation%20of%20small%20parties%20and %20therefore%20tends%20to%20create%20a%20few%20lar ger%20%22big%20church%22%20parties%20where%20the%2 0distance%20between%20members%20on%20the%20parties %27%20right%20and%20left%20wings%20may%20be%20sign ificant,%20which%20in%20turn%20can%20easily%20lead %20to%20internal%20rebellion%20against%20the%20off icial%20party%20platform%20when%20certain%20issues %20are%20voted%20on.%20In%20legislatures%20based%2 0on%20proportional%20representation%20elections%20 such%20party%20officials%20are%20rarely%20found,%2 0as%20PR%20increases%20the%20chances%20for%20small er%20parties%20to%20be%20represented,%20which%20in %20turn%20encourages%20the%20formation%20of%20more %20parties%20with%20more%20homogeneous%20ideology% 20where%20party%20discipline%20is%20less%20of%20an %20issue.%20%20The%20term%20%22whip%22%20is%20also %20used%20to%20mean:%20%20%20%20%20%20the%20voting %20instructions%20issued%20to%20members%20by%20the %20whip,[1]%20or%20%20%20%20%20in%20the%20UK%20and%20Ireland, %20a%20party%27s%20endorsement%20of%20a%20member%2 0of%20parliament;%20to%20%27withdraw%20the%20whip% 27%20is%20to%20expel%20an%20MP%20from%20his%20poli tical%20party.%20%28The%20elected%20member%20in%20 question%20would%20retain%20his%20or%20her%20seat. %29%20......%20%20......%20Australia%20%20In%20the %20Parliament%20of%20Australia,%20as%20well%20as%2 0in%20the%20parliaments%20of%20the%20six%20states% 20and%20two%20self-governing%20territories,%20all%20political%20parti es%20have%20whips%20to%20ensure%20party%20discipli ne%20and%20carry%20out%20a%20variety%20of%20other% 20functions%20on%20behalf%20of%20the%20party%20lea dership.%20The%20most%20important%20function%20of% 20the%20whip%27s%20office%20is%20to%20ensure%20tha t%20all%20members%20and%20senators%20are%20present %20to%20take%20part%20in%20votes%20in%20the%20cham ber.[2]%20Unlike%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom,%20Austral ian%20whips%20do%20not%20hold%20official%20office, %20but%20they%20are%20recognised%20for%20parliamen tary%20purposes.%20In%20practice,%20Australian%20w hips%20play%20a%20lesser%20role%20than%20their%20c ounterparts%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom,%20as%20 party%20discipline%20in%20Australia%20tends%20to%2 0be%20tighter[3]%20and%20genuine%20threats%20to%20cross%20the%20fl oor%20are%20much%20rarer.[citation%20needed]%20%20Their%20roles%20in%20the%20chamber%20include %20taking%20divisions,%20and%20maintaining%20a%20% 22pairs%20book%22%20which%20controls%20the%20abili ty%20of%20members%20and%20senators%20to%20leave%20 the%20parliament%20building%20during%20sittings,%2 0as%20well%20as%20the%20entitlement%20to%20be%20ab sent%20during%20divisions.%20%20Liberal%20Party%20 whips%20are%20appointed%20by%20the%20leader%20of%2 0the%20party,%20while%20Australian%20Labor%20Party %20whips%20are%20elected%20by%20the%20Caucus.%20Ea ch%20Chief%20Whip%20is%20assisted%20by%20two%20Dep uty%20Whips.[4]%20In%20the%20coalition%20one%20of%20the%20Deputy% 20Whips%20is%20always%20the%20National%20Party%20w hip.[citation%20needed]%20%20%20So%20basically%20the%20whip%20enforces%20 party%20policy%20but%20is%20not%20elected%20to%20p arliament.%20So,%20controls%20voting%20but%20is%20 not%20elected.%20%20%20The%20Black%20Rod%20from%20 Wiki:%20
The%20Gentleman%20Usher%20of%20the%20Black%20Rod,% 20generally%20shortened%20to%20just%20Black%20Rod, %20is%20an%20official%20in%20the%20parliaments%20o f%20several%20Commonwealth%20countries.%20The%20po sition%20originates%20in%20the%20House%20of%20Lord s%20of%20the%20Parliament%20of%20the%20United%20Ki ngdom.%20His%20equivalent%20in%20the%20House%20of% 20Commons%20is%20the%20Serjeant%20at%20Arms.%20%20 Origin%20The%20office%20was%20created%20in%201350% 20by%20royal%20letters%20patent,%20though%20the%20 current%20title%20dates%20from%201522.%20The%20pos ition%20was%20adopted%20by%20other%20members%20of% 20the%20Commonwealth%20when%20they%20copied%20the% 20British%20Westminster%20system.%20The%20title%20 is%20derived%20from%20the%20staff%20of%20office,%2 0an%20ebony%20staff%20topped%20with%20a%20golden%2 0lion,%20which%20is%20the%20main%20symbol%20of%20t he%20office%27s%20authority.%20%20Appointment%20Bl ack%20Rod%20is%20formally%20appointed%20by%20the%2 0Crown%20based%20on%20a%20recruitment%20search%20p erformed%20by%20the%20Clerk%20of%20the%20Parliamen ts,%20to%20whom%20he%20reports.%20Prior%20to%20200 2%20the%20office%20rotated%20among%20retired%20sen ior%20officers%20from%20the%20British%20Army,%20th e%20Royal%20Navy%20and%20the%20Royal%20Air%20Force .%20It%20is%20now%20advertised%20openly.%20Black%2 0Rod%20is%20an%20officer%20of%20the%20English%20Or der%20of%20the%20Garter,%20and%20takes%20the%20ran k%20of%20knight%20bachelor.%20His%20deputy%20is%20 the%20Yeoman%20Usher%20of%20the%20Black%20Rod.%20% 20Official%20duties%20Black%20Rod%20has%20several% 20official%20duties:%20he%20is%20the%20personal%20 attendant%20of%20the%20Sovereign%20in%20the%20Lord s;%20as%20secretary%20to%20the%20Lord%20Great%20Ch amberlain%20he%20is%20responsible%20as%20the%20ush er%20and%20doorkeeper%20at%20meetings%20of%20the%2 0Order%20of%20the%20Garter%20%28stemming%20from%20 the%20Garter%20Statute%201522%29;%20and,%20as%20th e%20Sergeant-at-Arms%20and%20Keeper%20of%20the%20Doors%20of%20the% 20House%20he%20is%20concerned%20in%20the%20admissi on%20of%20strangers%20to%20the%20House%20of%20Lord s.%20%20Black%20Rod%20further%20has%20the%20task%2 0of%20arresting%20any%20Lord%20guilty%20of%20breac h%20of%20privilege%20or%20other%20Parliamentary%20 offence,%20such%20as%20contempt%20or%20disorder,%2 0or%20the%20disturbance%20of%20the%20House%27s%20p roceedings.%20He%20is%20also%20responsible,%20as%2 0the%20representative%20of%20the%20Administration% 20and%20Works%20Committee,%20for%20more%20importan t%20services;%20the%20black%20rod%20is%20used%20to %20tap%20the%20governor%27s%20shoulder%20as%20a%20 blessing%20from%20the%20Queen%20and%20security%20o f%20the%20Palace%20of%20Westminster.%20Either%20Bl ack%20Rod%20or%20his%20deputy,%20the%20Yeoman%20Us her,%20is%20required%20to%20be%20present%20when%20 the%20House%20of%20Lords,%20upper%20house%20of%20P arliament,%20is%20in%20session,%20......%20%20Cere monial%20duties%20[edit]%20The%20Mace%20%20Black%20Rod%20is%20in%20theory% 20responsible%20for%20carrying%20the%20Mace%20into %20and%20out%20of%20the%20chamber%20for%20the%20Sp eaker%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Lords%20%28formerl y%20the%20Lord%20Chancellor,%20now%20the%20Lord%20 Speaker%29,%20though%20this%20role%20is%20delegate d%20to%20the%20Yeoman%20Usher%20and%20Deputy%20Ser jeant-at-Arms,%20or%20on%20judicial%20occasions,%20to%20the %20Lord%20Speaker%27s%20deputy,%20the%20Assistant% 20Serjeant-at-Arms.%20The%20mace%20was%20created%20in%201876.%20 %20[edit]%20State%20Opening%20of%20Parliament%20%20Black%20 Rod%20is%20best%20known%20for%20his%20part%20in%20 the%20ceremonies%20surrounding%20the%20State%20Ope ning%20of%20Parliament%20and%20the%20Throne%20spee ch.%20He%20summons%20the%20Commons%20to%20attend%2 0the%20speech%20and%20leads%20them%20to%20the%20Lo rds.%20As%20part%20of%20the%20ritual,%20as%20Black %20Rod%20approaches%20the%20doors%20to%20the%20cha mber%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Commons%20to%20make %20his%20summons,%20they%20are%20slammed%20in%20hi s%20face.%20This%20is%20to%20symbolise%20the%20Com mons%27%20independence%20of%20the%20Sovereign.%20B lack%20Rod%20then%20strikes%20the%20door%20three%2 0times%20with%20his%20staff,%20and%20is%20then%20a dmitted%20and%20issues%20the%20summons%20of%20the% 20monarch%20to%20attend.%20This%20ritual%20is%20de rived%20from%20the%20attempt%20by%20King%20Charles %20I%20to%20arrest%20five%20members%20in%201642,%2 0in%20what%20was%20seen%20as%20a%20breach%20of%20p rivilege.%20This%20and%20prior%20actions%20of%20th e%20King%20led%20to%20the%20Civil%20War.[1]%20After%20that%20incident,%20the%20House%20of%20C ommons%20has%20maintained%20its%20right%20to%20que stion%20the%20right%20of%20the%20monarch%27s%20rep resentative%20to%20enter%20their%20chamber,%20thou gh%20they%20cannot%20bar%20him%20from%20entering%2 0with%20lawful%20authority.%20%20%20There%20is%20a %20lot%20of%20historical%20connection%20there.%20T hese%20roles%20arose%20from%20direct%20historical% 20events.%20The%20Whip%20is%20the%20muscle.%20Ther e%27s%20a%20historical%20connection%20to%20the%20o nes%20that%20drove%20the%20work%20gangs%20that%20b uilt%20great%20civilisations.%20In%20Australia%20t hey%20are%20not%20elected%20and%20form%20another%2 0type%20of%20unaccountable%20self%20serving%20oper ative.%20You%20buy%20them%20and%20you%20have%20a%2 0lot%20of%20muscle.%20Maybe%20you%20don%27t%20need %20to%20spy%20as%20much%20on%20everyone%20to%20get %20the%20leverage%20you%20need?%20%20The%20Black%2 0Rod%20is%20very%20telling%20from%20a%20historical %20perspective.%20It%20comes%20at%20a%20critical%2 0time%20in%20history.%20Not%20just%20in%20British% 20history%20but%20Commonweath%20and%20US%20history .%20The%20events%20leading%20up%20to%20and%20resut ing%20from%20that%20period%20of%20world%20history% 20are%20very%20important.%20Where%20we%20are%20now %20can%20all%20be%20linked%20back%20to%20this%20ti me%20in%20history.%20It%27s%20a%20fulcrum%20point. %20A%20focus%20of%20extrodinary%20events.%20%20The re%20was%20the%20capture%20of%20King%20Charles%20I %20and%20his%20jailing.%20Cromwell%20was%20in%20ch arge.%20He%20had%20backers.%20They%20wanted%20resu lts.%20They%20wanted%20the%20country.%20The%20King %20escaped%20from%20custody%20and%20so%20broke%20a %20law%20that%20enabled%20his%20execution.%20The%2 0Kings%20heir%20Charles%20II%20was%20exiled.%20Cro mwell%20ran%20the%20show%20for%20a%20few%20years.% 20There%20were%202%20civil%20wars.%20Eventually%20 King%20Charles%20II%20was%20instated%20as%20King.% 20%20He%20was%20eventually%20replaced%20by%20King% 20James%20I%20who%20was%20the%20last%20King%20unti l%20very%20recenty%20IMO.%20King%20James%20was%20t he%20last%20King%20before%20the%20introduction%20o f%20the%201701%20Settlement%20Act%20%28UK%29%20whi ch%20creates%20a%20public%20servant%20called%20the %20Crown.%20This%20act%20in%20part%20came%20about% 20because%20the%20next%20heir%20to%20the%20throne% 20was%20going%20to%20be%20a%20catholic%20so%20the% 20law%20was%20created%20to%20setout%20the%20employ ment%20criteria%20for%20the%20Crown%20positions.%2 0It%20aslo%20included%20heredity%20clauses.%20%20T oday%20the%20events%20of%20300%20hundred%20years%2 0ago%20have%20come%20back%20to%20us%20and%20they%2 0demand%20our%20attention.%20They%20demand%20our%2 0attention%20because%20the%201701%20Settlement%20A ct%20is%20about%20to%20be%20modified,%20changing%2 0the%20employment%20contract%20of%20the%20Crown.%2 0I%27ll%20post%20some%20more%20on%20the%20Crown%20 separately.)
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 inducements and threaten punishments for 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. The usage comes from the hunting term whipping in, i.e. preventing hounds from wandering away from the pack.
Official party whips are almost exclusively found in legislatures based on first-past-the-post electoral systems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post), as FPTP discourages the formation of small parties and therefore tends to create a few larger "big church" parties where the distance between members on the parties' right and left wings may be significant, which in turn can easily lead to internal rebellion against the official party platform when certain issues are voted on. In legislatures based on proportional representation elections such party officials are rarely found, as PR increases the chances for smaller parties to be represented, which in turn encourages the formation of more parties with more homogeneous ideology where party discipline is less of an issue.
The term "whip" is also used to mean:
the voting instructions issued to members by the whip,[1] or
in the UK and Ireland, a party's endorsement of a member of parliament; to 'withdraw the whip' is to expel an MP from his political party. (The elected member in question would retain his or her seat.)
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Australia
In the Parliament of Australia, as well as in the parliaments of the six states and two self-governing territories, all political parties have whips to ensure party discipline and carry out a variety of other functions on behalf of the party leadership. The most important function of the whip's office is to ensure that all members and senators are present to take part in votes in the chamber.[2] Unlike in the United Kingdom, Australian whips do not hold official office, but they are recognised for parliamentary purposes. In practice, Australian whips play a lesser role than their counterparts in the United Kingdom, as party discipline in Australia tends to be tighter[3] and genuine threats to cross the floor are much rarer.[citation needed]
Their roles in the chamber include taking divisions, and maintaining a "pairs book" which controls the ability of members and senators to leave the parliament building during sittings, as well as the entitlement to be absent during divisions.
Liberal Party whips are appointed by the leader of the party, while Australian Labor Party whips are elected by the Caucus. Each Chief Whip is assisted by two Deputy Whips.[4] In the coalition one of the Deputy Whips is always the National Party whip.[citation needed]
So basically the whip enforces party policy but is not elected to parliament. So, controls voting but is not elected.
The Black Rod from Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Rod):
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of several Commonwealth countries. The position originates in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. His equivalent in the House of Commons is the Serjeant at Arms.
Origin
The office was created in 1350 by royal letters patent, though the current title dates from 1522. The position was adopted by other members of the Commonwealth when they copied the British Westminster system. The title is derived from the staff of office, an ebony staff topped with a golden lion, which is the main symbol of the office's authority.
Appointment
Black Rod is formally appointed by the Crown based on a recruitment search performed by the Clerk of the Parliaments, to whom he reports. Prior to 2002 the office rotated among retired senior officers from the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. It is now advertised openly. Black Rod is an officer of the English Order of the Garter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Garter), and takes the rank of knight bachelor. His deputy is the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod.
Official duties
Black Rod has several official duties: he is the personal attendant of the Sovereign in the Lords; as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain he is responsible as the usher and doorkeeper at meetings of the Order of the Garter (stemming from the Garter Statute 1522); and, as the Sergeant-at-Arms and Keeper of the Doors of the House he is concerned in the admission of strangers to the House of Lords.
Black Rod further has the task of arresting any Lord guilty of breach of privilege or other Parliamentary offence, such as contempt or disorder, or the disturbance of the House's proceedings. He is also responsible, as the representative of the Administration and Works Committee, for more important services; the black rod is used to tap the governor's shoulder as a blessing from the Queen and security of the Palace of Westminster. Either Black Rod or his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, is required to be present when the House of Lords, upper house of Parliament, is in session, ......
Ceremonial duties
[edit] The Mace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace)
Black Rod is in theory responsible for carrying the Mace into and out of the chamber for the Speaker of the House of Lords (formerly the Lord Chancellor, now the Lord Speaker), though this role is delegated to the Yeoman Usher and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, or on judicial occasions, to the Lord Speaker's deputy, the Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms. The mace was created in 1876.
[edit] State Opening of Parliament
Black Rod is best known for his part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament and the Throne speech. He summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, as Black Rod approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make his summons, they are slammed in his face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign. Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his staff, and is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend. This ritual is derived from the attempt by King Charles I to arrest five members in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of privilege. This and prior actions of the King led to the Civil War.[1] After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representative to enter their chamber, though they cannot bar him from entering with lawful authority.
There is a lot of historical connection there. These roles arose from direct historical events. The Whip is the muscle. There's a historical connection to the ones that drove the work gangs that built great civilisations. In Australia they are not elected and form another type of unaccountable self serving operative. You buy them and you have a lot of muscle. Maybe you don't need to spy as much on everyone to get the leverage you need? Just use the "whip".
The Black Rod is very telling from a historical perspective. It comes at a critical time in history. Not just in British history but Commonweath and US history. The events leading up to and resuting from that period of world history are very important. Where we are now can all be linked back to this time in history. It's a fulcrum point. A focus of extrodinary events.
There was the capture of King Charles I and his jailing. Cromwell was in charge. He had backers. They wanted results. They wanted the country. The King escaped from custody and so broke a law that enabled his execution. The Kings heir Charles II was exiled. Cromwell ran the show for a few years. There were 2 civil wars. Eventually King Charles II was instated as King.
He was eventually replaced by King James I who was the last King until very recenty IMO. King James was the last King before the introduction of the 1701 Settlement Act (UK) which creates a public servant called the Crown. This act in part came about because the next heir to the throne was going to be a catholic so the law was created to setout the employment criteria for the Crown positions. It aslo included heredity clauses.
Today the events of 300 hundred years ago have come back to us and they demand our attention. They demand our attention because the 1701 Settlement Act is about to be modified, changing the employment contract of the Crown. I'll post some more on this and the Crown separately.
I was thinking to myself how literal some labels are for many law and political concepts and behaviours. Palani is always coming up with good examples of law/contractural/legal concepts and their historical origins. Origins are very important.
Anyway while thinking the term Whip came to mind. I knew from highschool and hearing on the news that there is a parliamentary Whip in most parliaments and in Congress. There are slight differences but the Whips job is basicaly the same.
The Whip from Wiki: (http://gold-silver.us/forum/When%20you%20look%20at%20things%20closely%20it%20i s%20interesting%20what%20you%20can%20see.%20I%20me an%20really%20see.%20To%20me%20seeing%20is%20knowl edge%20imparting.%20Things%20are%20often%20right%2 0there%20in%20front%20of%20you%20and%20while%20you %20might%20look%20at%20them%20you%20don%27t%20see% 20what%27s%20really%20there.%20%20I%20was%20thinki ng%20to%20myself%20how%20literal%20some%20labels%2 0are%20for%20many%20law%20and%20political%20concep ts%20and%20behaviours.%20Palani%20is%20always%20co ming%20up%20with%20good%20examples%20of%20law/contractural/legal%20concepts%20and%20their%20historical%20orig ins.%20Origins%20are%20very%20important.%20%20Anyw ay%20while%20thinking%20the%20term%20Whip%20came%2 0to%20mind.%20I%20knew%20from%20highschool%20and%2 0hearing%20on%20the%20news%20that%20there%20is%20a %20parliamentary%20Whip%20in%20most%20parliaments% 20and%20in%20Congress.%20There%20are%20slight%20di fferences%20but%20the%20Whips%20job%20is%20basical y%20the%20same.%20%20The%20Whip%20from%20Wiki:%20
A%20whip%20is%20an%20official%20in%20a%20political %20party%20whose%20primary%20purpose%20is%20to%20e nsure%20party%20discipline%20in%20a%20legislature. %20Whips%20are%20a%20party%27s%20%22enforcers%22,% 20who%20typically%20offer%20inducements%20and%20th reaten%20punishments%20for%20party%20members%20to% 20ensure%20that%20they%20vote%20according%20to%20t he%20official%20party%20policy.%20A%20whip%27s%20r ole%20is%20also%20to%20ensure%20that%20the%20elect ed%20representatives%20of%20their%20party%20are%20 in%20attendance%20when%20important%20votes%20are%2 0taken.%20The%20usage%20comes%20from%20the%20hunti ng%20term%20whipping%20in,%20i.e.%20preventing%20h ounds%20from%20wandering%20away%20from%20the%20pac k.%20%20Official%20party%20whips%20are%20almost%20 exclusively%20found%20in%20legislatures%20based%20 on%20first-past-the-post%20electoral%20systems,%20as%20FPTP%20discoura ges%20the%20formation%20of%20small%20parties%20and %20therefore%20tends%20to%20create%20a%20few%20lar ger%20%22big%20church%22%20parties%20where%20the%2 0distance%20between%20members%20on%20the%20parties %27%20right%20and%20left%20wings%20may%20be%20sign ificant,%20which%20in%20turn%20can%20easily%20lead %20to%20internal%20rebellion%20against%20the%20off icial%20party%20platform%20when%20certain%20issues %20are%20voted%20on.%20In%20legislatures%20based%2 0on%20proportional%20representation%20elections%20 such%20party%20officials%20are%20rarely%20found,%2 0as%20PR%20increases%20the%20chances%20for%20small er%20parties%20to%20be%20represented,%20which%20in %20turn%20encourages%20the%20formation%20of%20more %20parties%20with%20more%20homogeneous%20ideology% 20where%20party%20discipline%20is%20less%20of%20an %20issue.%20%20The%20term%20%22whip%22%20is%20also %20used%20to%20mean:%20%20%20%20%20%20the%20voting %20instructions%20issued%20to%20members%20by%20the %20whip,[1]%20or%20%20%20%20%20in%20the%20UK%20and%20Ireland, %20a%20party%27s%20endorsement%20of%20a%20member%2 0of%20parliament;%20to%20%27withdraw%20the%20whip% 27%20is%20to%20expel%20an%20MP%20from%20his%20poli tical%20party.%20%28The%20elected%20member%20in%20 question%20would%20retain%20his%20or%20her%20seat. %29%20......%20%20......%20Australia%20%20In%20the %20Parliament%20of%20Australia,%20as%20well%20as%2 0in%20the%20parliaments%20of%20the%20six%20states% 20and%20two%20self-governing%20territories,%20all%20political%20parti es%20have%20whips%20to%20ensure%20party%20discipli ne%20and%20carry%20out%20a%20variety%20of%20other% 20functions%20on%20behalf%20of%20the%20party%20lea dership.%20The%20most%20important%20function%20of% 20the%20whip%27s%20office%20is%20to%20ensure%20tha t%20all%20members%20and%20senators%20are%20present %20to%20take%20part%20in%20votes%20in%20the%20cham ber.[2]%20Unlike%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom,%20Austral ian%20whips%20do%20not%20hold%20official%20office, %20but%20they%20are%20recognised%20for%20parliamen tary%20purposes.%20In%20practice,%20Australian%20w hips%20play%20a%20lesser%20role%20than%20their%20c ounterparts%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom,%20as%20 party%20discipline%20in%20Australia%20tends%20to%2 0be%20tighter[3]%20and%20genuine%20threats%20to%20cross%20the%20fl oor%20are%20much%20rarer.[citation%20needed]%20%20Their%20roles%20in%20the%20chamber%20include %20taking%20divisions,%20and%20maintaining%20a%20% 22pairs%20book%22%20which%20controls%20the%20abili ty%20of%20members%20and%20senators%20to%20leave%20 the%20parliament%20building%20during%20sittings,%2 0as%20well%20as%20the%20entitlement%20to%20be%20ab sent%20during%20divisions.%20%20Liberal%20Party%20 whips%20are%20appointed%20by%20the%20leader%20of%2 0the%20party,%20while%20Australian%20Labor%20Party %20whips%20are%20elected%20by%20the%20Caucus.%20Ea ch%20Chief%20Whip%20is%20assisted%20by%20two%20Dep uty%20Whips.[4]%20In%20the%20coalition%20one%20of%20the%20Deputy% 20Whips%20is%20always%20the%20National%20Party%20w hip.[citation%20needed]%20%20%20So%20basically%20the%20whip%20enforces%20 party%20policy%20but%20is%20not%20elected%20to%20p arliament.%20So,%20controls%20voting%20but%20is%20 not%20elected.%20%20%20The%20Black%20Rod%20from%20 Wiki:%20
The%20Gentleman%20Usher%20of%20the%20Black%20Rod,% 20generally%20shortened%20to%20just%20Black%20Rod, %20is%20an%20official%20in%20the%20parliaments%20o f%20several%20Commonwealth%20countries.%20The%20po sition%20originates%20in%20the%20House%20of%20Lord s%20of%20the%20Parliament%20of%20the%20United%20Ki ngdom.%20His%20equivalent%20in%20the%20House%20of% 20Commons%20is%20the%20Serjeant%20at%20Arms.%20%20 Origin%20The%20office%20was%20created%20in%201350% 20by%20royal%20letters%20patent,%20though%20the%20 current%20title%20dates%20from%201522.%20The%20pos ition%20was%20adopted%20by%20other%20members%20of% 20the%20Commonwealth%20when%20they%20copied%20the% 20British%20Westminster%20system.%20The%20title%20 is%20derived%20from%20the%20staff%20of%20office,%2 0an%20ebony%20staff%20topped%20with%20a%20golden%2 0lion,%20which%20is%20the%20main%20symbol%20of%20t he%20office%27s%20authority.%20%20Appointment%20Bl ack%20Rod%20is%20formally%20appointed%20by%20the%2 0Crown%20based%20on%20a%20recruitment%20search%20p erformed%20by%20the%20Clerk%20of%20the%20Parliamen ts,%20to%20whom%20he%20reports.%20Prior%20to%20200 2%20the%20office%20rotated%20among%20retired%20sen ior%20officers%20from%20the%20British%20Army,%20th e%20Royal%20Navy%20and%20the%20Royal%20Air%20Force .%20It%20is%20now%20advertised%20openly.%20Black%2 0Rod%20is%20an%20officer%20of%20the%20English%20Or der%20of%20the%20Garter,%20and%20takes%20the%20ran k%20of%20knight%20bachelor.%20His%20deputy%20is%20 the%20Yeoman%20Usher%20of%20the%20Black%20Rod.%20% 20Official%20duties%20Black%20Rod%20has%20several% 20official%20duties:%20he%20is%20the%20personal%20 attendant%20of%20the%20Sovereign%20in%20the%20Lord s;%20as%20secretary%20to%20the%20Lord%20Great%20Ch amberlain%20he%20is%20responsible%20as%20the%20ush er%20and%20doorkeeper%20at%20meetings%20of%20the%2 0Order%20of%20the%20Garter%20%28stemming%20from%20 the%20Garter%20Statute%201522%29;%20and,%20as%20th e%20Sergeant-at-Arms%20and%20Keeper%20of%20the%20Doors%20of%20the% 20House%20he%20is%20concerned%20in%20the%20admissi on%20of%20strangers%20to%20the%20House%20of%20Lord s.%20%20Black%20Rod%20further%20has%20the%20task%2 0of%20arresting%20any%20Lord%20guilty%20of%20breac h%20of%20privilege%20or%20other%20Parliamentary%20 offence,%20such%20as%20contempt%20or%20disorder,%2 0or%20the%20disturbance%20of%20the%20House%27s%20p roceedings.%20He%20is%20also%20responsible,%20as%2 0the%20representative%20of%20the%20Administration% 20and%20Works%20Committee,%20for%20more%20importan t%20services;%20the%20black%20rod%20is%20used%20to %20tap%20the%20governor%27s%20shoulder%20as%20a%20 blessing%20from%20the%20Queen%20and%20security%20o f%20the%20Palace%20of%20Westminster.%20Either%20Bl ack%20Rod%20or%20his%20deputy,%20the%20Yeoman%20Us her,%20is%20required%20to%20be%20present%20when%20 the%20House%20of%20Lords,%20upper%20house%20of%20P arliament,%20is%20in%20session,%20......%20%20Cere monial%20duties%20[edit]%20The%20Mace%20%20Black%20Rod%20is%20in%20theory% 20responsible%20for%20carrying%20the%20Mace%20into %20and%20out%20of%20the%20chamber%20for%20the%20Sp eaker%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Lords%20%28formerl y%20the%20Lord%20Chancellor,%20now%20the%20Lord%20 Speaker%29,%20though%20this%20role%20is%20delegate d%20to%20the%20Yeoman%20Usher%20and%20Deputy%20Ser jeant-at-Arms,%20or%20on%20judicial%20occasions,%20to%20the %20Lord%20Speaker%27s%20deputy,%20the%20Assistant% 20Serjeant-at-Arms.%20The%20mace%20was%20created%20in%201876.%20 %20[edit]%20State%20Opening%20of%20Parliament%20%20Black%20 Rod%20is%20best%20known%20for%20his%20part%20in%20 the%20ceremonies%20surrounding%20the%20State%20Ope ning%20of%20Parliament%20and%20the%20Throne%20spee ch.%20He%20summons%20the%20Commons%20to%20attend%2 0the%20speech%20and%20leads%20them%20to%20the%20Lo rds.%20As%20part%20of%20the%20ritual,%20as%20Black %20Rod%20approaches%20the%20doors%20to%20the%20cha mber%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Commons%20to%20make %20his%20summons,%20they%20are%20slammed%20in%20hi s%20face.%20This%20is%20to%20symbolise%20the%20Com mons%27%20independence%20of%20the%20Sovereign.%20B lack%20Rod%20then%20strikes%20the%20door%20three%2 0times%20with%20his%20staff,%20and%20is%20then%20a dmitted%20and%20issues%20the%20summons%20of%20the% 20monarch%20to%20attend.%20This%20ritual%20is%20de rived%20from%20the%20attempt%20by%20King%20Charles %20I%20to%20arrest%20five%20members%20in%201642,%2 0in%20what%20was%20seen%20as%20a%20breach%20of%20p rivilege.%20This%20and%20prior%20actions%20of%20th e%20King%20led%20to%20the%20Civil%20War.[1]%20After%20that%20incident,%20the%20House%20of%20C ommons%20has%20maintained%20its%20right%20to%20que stion%20the%20right%20of%20the%20monarch%27s%20rep resentative%20to%20enter%20their%20chamber,%20thou gh%20they%20cannot%20bar%20him%20from%20entering%2 0with%20lawful%20authority.%20%20%20There%20is%20a %20lot%20of%20historical%20connection%20there.%20T hese%20roles%20arose%20from%20direct%20historical% 20events.%20The%20Whip%20is%20the%20muscle.%20Ther e%27s%20a%20historical%20connection%20to%20the%20o nes%20that%20drove%20the%20work%20gangs%20that%20b uilt%20great%20civilisations.%20In%20Australia%20t hey%20are%20not%20elected%20and%20form%20another%2 0type%20of%20unaccountable%20self%20serving%20oper ative.%20You%20buy%20them%20and%20you%20have%20a%2 0lot%20of%20muscle.%20Maybe%20you%20don%27t%20need %20to%20spy%20as%20much%20on%20everyone%20to%20get %20the%20leverage%20you%20need?%20%20The%20Black%2 0Rod%20is%20very%20telling%20from%20a%20historical %20perspective.%20It%20comes%20at%20a%20critical%2 0time%20in%20history.%20Not%20just%20in%20British% 20history%20but%20Commonweath%20and%20US%20history .%20The%20events%20leading%20up%20to%20and%20resut ing%20from%20that%20period%20of%20world%20history% 20are%20very%20important.%20Where%20we%20are%20now %20can%20all%20be%20linked%20back%20to%20this%20ti me%20in%20history.%20It%27s%20a%20fulcrum%20point. %20A%20focus%20of%20extrodinary%20events.%20%20The re%20was%20the%20capture%20of%20King%20Charles%20I %20and%20his%20jailing.%20Cromwell%20was%20in%20ch arge.%20He%20had%20backers.%20They%20wanted%20resu lts.%20They%20wanted%20the%20country.%20The%20King %20escaped%20from%20custody%20and%20so%20broke%20a %20law%20that%20enabled%20his%20execution.%20The%2 0Kings%20heir%20Charles%20II%20was%20exiled.%20Cro mwell%20ran%20the%20show%20for%20a%20few%20years.% 20There%20were%202%20civil%20wars.%20Eventually%20 King%20Charles%20II%20was%20instated%20as%20King.% 20%20He%20was%20eventually%20replaced%20by%20King% 20James%20I%20who%20was%20the%20last%20King%20unti l%20very%20recenty%20IMO.%20King%20James%20was%20t he%20last%20King%20before%20the%20introduction%20o f%20the%201701%20Settlement%20Act%20%28UK%29%20whi ch%20creates%20a%20public%20servant%20called%20the %20Crown.%20This%20act%20in%20part%20came%20about% 20because%20the%20next%20heir%20to%20the%20throne% 20was%20going%20to%20be%20a%20catholic%20so%20the% 20law%20was%20created%20to%20setout%20the%20employ ment%20criteria%20for%20the%20Crown%20positions.%2 0It%20aslo%20included%20heredity%20clauses.%20%20T oday%20the%20events%20of%20300%20hundred%20years%2 0ago%20have%20come%20back%20to%20us%20and%20they%2 0demand%20our%20attention.%20They%20demand%20our%2 0attention%20because%20the%201701%20Settlement%20A ct%20is%20about%20to%20be%20modified,%20changing%2 0the%20employment%20contract%20of%20the%20Crown.%2 0I%27ll%20post%20some%20more%20on%20the%20Crown%20 separately.)
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 inducements and threaten punishments for 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. The usage comes from the hunting term whipping in, i.e. preventing hounds from wandering away from the pack.
Official party whips are almost exclusively found in legislatures based on first-past-the-post electoral systems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post), as FPTP discourages the formation of small parties and therefore tends to create a few larger "big church" parties where the distance between members on the parties' right and left wings may be significant, which in turn can easily lead to internal rebellion against the official party platform when certain issues are voted on. In legislatures based on proportional representation elections such party officials are rarely found, as PR increases the chances for smaller parties to be represented, which in turn encourages the formation of more parties with more homogeneous ideology where party discipline is less of an issue.
The term "whip" is also used to mean:
the voting instructions issued to members by the whip,[1] or
in the UK and Ireland, a party's endorsement of a member of parliament; to 'withdraw the whip' is to expel an MP from his political party. (The elected member in question would retain his or her seat.)
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Australia
In the Parliament of Australia, as well as in the parliaments of the six states and two self-governing territories, all political parties have whips to ensure party discipline and carry out a variety of other functions on behalf of the party leadership. The most important function of the whip's office is to ensure that all members and senators are present to take part in votes in the chamber.[2] Unlike in the United Kingdom, Australian whips do not hold official office, but they are recognised for parliamentary purposes. In practice, Australian whips play a lesser role than their counterparts in the United Kingdom, as party discipline in Australia tends to be tighter[3] and genuine threats to cross the floor are much rarer.[citation needed]
Their roles in the chamber include taking divisions, and maintaining a "pairs book" which controls the ability of members and senators to leave the parliament building during sittings, as well as the entitlement to be absent during divisions.
Liberal Party whips are appointed by the leader of the party, while Australian Labor Party whips are elected by the Caucus. Each Chief Whip is assisted by two Deputy Whips.[4] In the coalition one of the Deputy Whips is always the National Party whip.[citation needed]
So basically the whip enforces party policy but is not elected to parliament. So, controls voting but is not elected.
The Black Rod from Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Rod):
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of several Commonwealth countries. The position originates in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. His equivalent in the House of Commons is the Serjeant at Arms.
Origin
The office was created in 1350 by royal letters patent, though the current title dates from 1522. The position was adopted by other members of the Commonwealth when they copied the British Westminster system. The title is derived from the staff of office, an ebony staff topped with a golden lion, which is the main symbol of the office's authority.
Appointment
Black Rod is formally appointed by the Crown based on a recruitment search performed by the Clerk of the Parliaments, to whom he reports. Prior to 2002 the office rotated among retired senior officers from the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. It is now advertised openly. Black Rod is an officer of the English Order of the Garter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Garter), and takes the rank of knight bachelor. His deputy is the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod.
Official duties
Black Rod has several official duties: he is the personal attendant of the Sovereign in the Lords; as secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain he is responsible as the usher and doorkeeper at meetings of the Order of the Garter (stemming from the Garter Statute 1522); and, as the Sergeant-at-Arms and Keeper of the Doors of the House he is concerned in the admission of strangers to the House of Lords.
Black Rod further has the task of arresting any Lord guilty of breach of privilege or other Parliamentary offence, such as contempt or disorder, or the disturbance of the House's proceedings. He is also responsible, as the representative of the Administration and Works Committee, for more important services; the black rod is used to tap the governor's shoulder as a blessing from the Queen and security of the Palace of Westminster. Either Black Rod or his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, is required to be present when the House of Lords, upper house of Parliament, is in session, ......
Ceremonial duties
[edit] The Mace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_mace)
Black Rod is in theory responsible for carrying the Mace into and out of the chamber for the Speaker of the House of Lords (formerly the Lord Chancellor, now the Lord Speaker), though this role is delegated to the Yeoman Usher and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, or on judicial occasions, to the Lord Speaker's deputy, the Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms. The mace was created in 1876.
[edit] State Opening of Parliament
Black Rod is best known for his part in the ceremonies surrounding the State Opening of Parliament and the Throne speech. He summons the Commons to attend the speech and leads them to the Lords. As part of the ritual, as Black Rod approaches the doors to the chamber of the House of Commons to make his summons, they are slammed in his face. This is to symbolise the Commons' independence of the Sovereign. Black Rod then strikes the door three times with his staff, and is then admitted and issues the summons of the monarch to attend. This ritual is derived from the attempt by King Charles I to arrest five members in 1642, in what was seen as a breach of privilege. This and prior actions of the King led to the Civil War.[1] After that incident, the House of Commons has maintained its right to question the right of the monarch's representative to enter their chamber, though they cannot bar him from entering with lawful authority.
There is a lot of historical connection there. These roles arose from direct historical events. The Whip is the muscle. There's a historical connection to the ones that drove the work gangs that built great civilisations. In Australia they are not elected and form another type of unaccountable self serving operative. You buy them and you have a lot of muscle. Maybe you don't need to spy as much on everyone to get the leverage you need? Just use the "whip".
The Black Rod is very telling from a historical perspective. It comes at a critical time in history. Not just in British history but Commonweath and US history. The events leading up to and resuting from that period of world history are very important. Where we are now can all be linked back to this time in history. It's a fulcrum point. A focus of extrodinary events.
There was the capture of King Charles I and his jailing. Cromwell was in charge. He had backers. They wanted results. They wanted the country. The King escaped from custody and so broke a law that enabled his execution. The Kings heir Charles II was exiled. Cromwell ran the show for a few years. There were 2 civil wars. Eventually King Charles II was instated as King.
He was eventually replaced by King James I who was the last King until very recenty IMO. King James was the last King before the introduction of the 1701 Settlement Act (UK) which creates a public servant called the Crown. This act in part came about because the next heir to the throne was going to be a catholic so the law was created to setout the employment criteria for the Crown positions. It aslo included heredity clauses.
Today the events of 300 hundred years ago have come back to us and they demand our attention. They demand our attention because the 1701 Settlement Act is about to be modified, changing the employment contract of the Crown. I'll post some more on this and the Crown separately.