Talk:Conscience vote

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"A conscience vote or free vote is a type of vote in a legislative body where legislators are allowed to vote according to their own personal conscience rather than according to an official line set down by their political party."

This is not an accurate definition of a Free Vote in the UK .

According to UK Parliament's Glossary: "A free vote in Parliament is one in which MPs or members of the Lords are not put under any pressure as to which way to vote by their party's Whips." http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/free-vote/

According to Collins Dictionary: (mainly British) a parliamentary division in which members are not constrained by a party whip. http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/free-vote

Individual personal conscience is NOT the part of the definition of a Free Vote in the UK. (88.105.46.4 (talk) 10:36, 23 May 2015 (UTC))Reply

"In the United States, almost all votes could be considered free votes, since parties exercise relatively little control over the votes of individual legislators." How is that true? Senators and representatives very often vote along party lines not only out of loyalty but also because there is an implicit deal that they will get more cooperation by doing so. -- Phyzome is Tim McCormack 03:12, 23 November 2006 (UTC)Reply

That may be true, but the way it works is nonetheless drastically different from the way things work in Westminster systems. In Canada, for example, a member of parliament who votes against his or her party on a whipped vote may get kicked out of the party or otherwise disciplined. MP Bev Desjarlais was removed from her shadow cabinet position because she voted against gay marriage. In the US Congress, that would never happen. Chris Shays votes against his party often, even on on issues like abortion and gun control, but is still a subcommittee chairman (until the Democrats take over, anyway). -- Mwalcoff 03:31, 23 November 2006 (UTC)Reply

Can someone add India? 207.96.32.81 (talk) 11:21, 12 August 2023 (UTC)Reply

The redirect Conscience issues has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2025 September 30 § Conscience issues until a consensus is reached. —Alalch E. 14:12, 30 September 2025 (UTC)Reply