live pair

noun

Two members of Congress who would have otherwise cast opposing votes, but who form an agreement whereby one announces the couple is a live pair and registers his or her own vote as present rather than for or against. Although not recognized or recorded in vote tallies, the effect is to allow the other member to be absent without affecting the outcome of the vote.

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Meanings

nounlive pair (plural live pairs)

plural live pairs

  1. USgovernmentTwo members of Congress who would have otherwise cast opposing votes, but who form an agreement whereby one announces the couple is a live pair and registers his or her own vote as present rather than for or against. Although not recognized or recorded in vote tallies, the effect is to allow the other member to be absent without affecting the outcome of the vote.
Cite this entry
APA

live pair. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20pair

MLA

“live pair.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20pair. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “live pair,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20pair.

Source: live pair on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.