Like “gaffer” in the filmmaking world, the term “whip” has the politically uninitiated scratching heads. A whip, in legislative parlance, is an enforcer — of votes.

Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, along with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, were just named “chief deputy whips.” They make sure the votes come in as leadership hopes. These Democrats are in the minority, so what they may be whipping up are the votes to kill measures from the GOP. And if Schatz gets to rub shoulders with Booker, a rising Dem star, that’s not bad.

A gaffer is a chief electrical technician, by the way.