Catch and release, named after the fishing term "catch and release," is a term used to describe a political strategy by which members of the United States Congress can affect an appearance of political independence. Critics suggest that the practice enables members, usually nominal moderates, to escape accountability for supporting legislation backed by their party but unpopular in their districts. Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish. ... Catch and release is a term given to the recreational fishing where releasing the fish (catch) is believed to be a technique of conservation. ... The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ...

In catch and release, legislators are pressured by their party's leadership into agreeing to vote for a bill that is unpopular in their districts, but are then released to vote as they please if the bill will pass without their vote. The member of Congress can tell his or her constituents that he or she broke with party leadership on that issue, when Senator or Representative actually would have supported the leadership if it had been necessary for passage. A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ...