caucus

[kaw-kuhs]

noun

plural

caucuses 

1. U.S. Politics.

   1. a local meeting of party members to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc.

   2. a meeting of party members within a legislative body to select leaders and determine strategy.

   3. Often Caucus a faction within a legislative body that pursues its interests through the legislative process.

      the Women's Caucus; the Black Caucus.

2. any group or meeting organized to further a special interest or cause.

verb (used without object)

1. to hold or meet in a caucus.

verb (used with object)

1. to bring up or hold for discussion in a caucus.

   The subject was caucused.

2. to bring together or poll in a caucus.

   The paper caucused its new editorial board on Friday.

   The chairman caucused the water pollution committee before making recommendations.

caucus

/ ˈkɔːkəs /

noun

1. 1. a closed meeting of the members of one party in a legislative chamber, etc, to coordinate policy, choose candidates, etc

   2. such a bloc of politicians

      the Democratic caucus in Congress

2. 1. a group of leading politicians of one party

   2. a meeting of such a group

3. a local meeting of party members

4. a group or faction within a larger group, esp a political party, who discuss tactics, choose candidates, etc

5. a group of MPs from one party who meet to discuss tactics, etc

6. a formal meeting of all Members of Parliament belonging to one political party

verb

1. (intr) to hold a caucus

caucus

1. A meeting of members of a political party to nominate candidates, choose convention delegates, plan campaign tactics, determine party policy, or select leaders for a legislature.

Word History and Origins

Origin of caucus¹

An Americanism dating back to 1755–65; apparently first used in the name of the Caucus Club of colonial Boston; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Medieval Latin caucus “drinking vessel,” Late Latin caucum, from Greek kaûkos; perhaps from Virginia Algonquian Cawcawwassough “elders of the Chickahominy people”

Word History and Origins

Origin of caucus¹

C18: probably of Algonquian origin; related to caucauasu adviser

Example Sentences

The Republican caucus was unified with three exceptions.

Read more on Salon

Debate around it had been partially eclipsed by partisan drama between Carney's Liberals and the Conservative opposition, who lost a member of their caucus to the Liberals shortly after the fiscal plan was proposed.

Read more on BBC

Democratic strategist Anthony Coley, a Senate campaign veteran, said he was “a huge fan” of the young representative, and said Schumer “lost control of his caucus.”

Read more on Salon

Republican congresswomen are a rare breed, making up only 14% of their caucus.

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When eight members of his caucus joined 52 Republicans to open the government through Jan. 30, Mr. Schumer took the blame.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• convention 
• gathering 
• meeting 
• session