The term 'whip' conjures up images of punishment inflicted by animal trainers on animals, but in the political sense, it is the highest form of responsibility. A 'party whip' (earlier they were known as 'assistant party leader') is not only a tough disciplinarian, behind the scene, but also a guardian with a thankless job within political circles. The jobs of these political employees is to enable the members to observe the party protocol as well as keep them focused on the party goals. In the U.S., the majority party whip holds the supreme position in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, minority whips are appointed by the party holding less seats in one or both houses of Congress. Majority and minority whips often use assistant whips, like deputy whips, to help cover different geographic regions, and they are known as regional whips or zone whips. Although whips are most ordinarily referred to Congress, many state legislatures also appoint whips. In the House, they rank immediately below the Speaker; whereas in the Senate, they rank second in hierarchy to the majority party leader. There is no formal educational qualification required to be a majority whip, any member of Congress can be one, most whips are lawyers. Their term length in the office ranges from two to ten years. Apart from the U.S., the U.K., Australia, India, and New Zealand also appoint party whips. Although hidden from the public eye, the post of party whip sometimes becomes a means of advancement to a higher congressional party office.