Caucus

In the U.S. Congress, a caucus is an informal group of legislators who share an interest in the same policy issues and represent this interest throughout the legislative process and generally seeks to influence the debate on the issue in the public policy arena. For example, the Americans Abroad Caucus, the Arts Caucus, the Democratic Caucus, the Republican Caucus, and the Black Caucus. Generally these caucuses are informal, though the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control was formally established by law.

In legislative bodies, caucus also denotes a closed meeting of party members to decide on questions of policy or leadership. In the US Congress, the major political parties hold weekly caucus meetings – usually on Tuesdays: the Democratic Caucus Luncheon and the Republican Caucus Lunch.

The term is also used in US presidential politics to describe the process whereby party members register preferences for candidates and/or select convention delegates. For example, the Iowa caucuses.