Party line (politics)

In politics, the line or the party line is an idiom for a political party or social movement's canon agenda, as well as specific ideological elements specific to the organization's partisanship. The common phrase toeing the party line describes a person who speaks in a manner that conforms to his political party's agenda. Likewise, a party-line vote is one in which most or all of the legislators from each political party voted in accordance with that party's policies. In several countries, a whip attempts to ensure this.

The Marxist-Leninist concept (see General line of the party) of democratic centralism involves strict adherence to, and defense of, a communist party's positions in public, while in inner-party debate sessions, the line can be questioned, criticized, and changed if necessary.

Used loosely, the phrase "the party line" may also refer to the non-party organizations such as religious groups, business offices, or social network a that may have a semi-official organizational policy or position that is unrelated to any political party.

See also

• Whip (politics)
• Multi-tendency
• Manifesto
• Party platform
• Message Discipline

References