PAIRING-OFF

In the practice of legislative bodies, this is the name given to a species of negative proxies, by which two members, who belong to opposite parties or are on opposite sides with regard to a gives question, mutually agree that they will both be absent from voting, either for a specified period or when a division is had on the particular question. By this mutual agreement a vote is neutralized on each side of the question, and the relative numbers on the division are precisely the same as if both members were present. May, Pari. Pr. 370.