Changing one's political allegiance while in office
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In the Australian Senate, Senators vote in favor of a motion by sitting on the benches to the president's right (left of photo), and against it by sitting on the benches to the president's left (right of photo)
In some parliamentary systems (e.g., in Canada and the United Kingdom), politicians are said to cross the floor if they formally change their political affiliation to a political party different from the one they were initially elected under. In Australia though, this term simply refers to Members of Parliament (MPs) who dissent from the party line and vote against the express instructions of the party whip while retaining membership in their political party (at least for the time being).
Voting against party lines may lead to consequences such as losing a position (e.g., as minister or a portfolio critic) or being ejected from the party caucus. While these practices are legally permissible in most countries, crossing the floor can lead to controversy and media attention. Some countries like Malaysia, India,[1] the Maldives and Bangladesh[2] have laws that remove a member from parliament due to floor-crossing.
^Venkatesan, J. (2010-10-12). "What the Anti-Defection Law says". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
^"The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh | 70. Vacation of seat on resignation or voting against political party". bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd.
and 23 Related for: Crossing the floor information
Malaysia, India, the Maldives and Bangladesh have laws that remove a member from parliament due to floor-crossing. The term originates from the British House...
Victoria, with the bench-seats along the walls of the shelter-shed being used as platforms joining the corner, while players crossingthefloor could be caught...
legislature switches from one party to another, this is called crossingthefloor. The list details the dates, members involved, previous and new party affiliations...
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crosses thefloor of the chamber to vote against the instructions of their party whip. Crossingthefloor very rarely occurs, but is more likely in the Senate...
with map Crossingthefloor for the same concept in the Westminster system People United Means Action "United States – Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive...
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numerous small parties which change regularly, with parties and MPs "crossingthefloor" and Prime Ministers frequently being ousted in motions of no confidence...
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numerous small parties which change regularly, with parties and MPs "crossingthefloor," and Prime Ministers being ousted in motions of no confidence has...
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conservative Canadian Alliance voted to merge into the Conservative Party of Canada, Brison crossed thefloor to join the Liberal Party. Born in Windsor, Nova Scotia...
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