floor leader

n.
The member of a legislature chosen by fellow party members to be in charge of the party's activities on the floor.

Floor leaders are senators and representatives elected at the beginning of each Congress by their respective parties. They champion party positions, drive legislative strategy, rally support and orchestrate roll call votes. Although key members of Congress were referred to by the press as party leaders in the nineteenth century, the Democrats did not formally designate floor leaders until 1920, the Republicans in 1925.

The ruling party's selection becomes the majority leader. This person establishes the daily legislative schedule. When several members seek to address the chamber, the majority leader has the right of first recognition. This power allows the leader to propose amendments, substitutes, and motions before any other.

Bibliography

Ardis, Lawrence, ed. Party Leaders in Congress, 1789–2002: Vital Statistics and Biographical Sketches. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2002.

—Christine M. Roane

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: the legislator who organizes his party's strategy

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