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Congressional caucuses are groups of congressmen with shared interests and goals, ranging from political parties to specific causes. They must register with the House of Representatives and follow specific rules. Some caucuses work across party lines, while others are split. They can become strong and work to elect people who support their causes. They are different from committees, which have the ability to review legislation.
A congressional caucus is a group of congressmen who share common interests and goals. Caucus members meet periodically to discuss issues of interest and to direct actions that will benefit various causes, from sponsoring legislation to meeting with other members of congress. Numerous congressional caucuses have been held, ranging from large party conferences to smaller caucuses on causes ranging from open space conservation to promoting pro-urban initiatives.
The rules for organizing a congressional caucus are quite simple. Each legislative session, a prospective caucus must register as a Congressional Member Organization through the House of Representatives by providing their name and purpose, along with a list of caucus officers. Both House and Senate members can belong to a congressional member organization, and these organizations must follow specific rules of conduct—a rule that disallows the use of government funds to support caucus operating expenses.
Some caucuses are organized along political lines, such as the Democratic and Republican Party Conferences. Others connect members of congress based on a shared racial or religious heritage, such as the National Black Caucus and the Prayer Caucus. Most congressional caucuses, however, have been formed to champion specific causes and include members of Congress with an interest in those particular causes.
Some caucuses include a mixture of people from both political parties, reflecting a desire to work across party lines to achieve common goals. Others are split, and in some cases, separate caucuses can be found for Democratic and Republican supporters; Hispanic congressmen, for example, may belong to a Republican or Democrat-leaning caucus, depending on their party affiliation.
In addition to congressional caucuses, the House of Representatives and Senate are also subdivided into committees that deal with various issues of interest. Unlike committees, committees do not have the ability to review legislation to determine whether or not it should be brought to the floor for a vote. However, caucus members are often encouraged to speak with committee members on matters of common concern, and some people may have members on committees addressing causes they support at a congressional caucus.
In some cases, a congressional caucus can become quite strong, thanks to the efforts of its members and its large size. These groups can work to help elect people who will champion their causes, ensuring the strength of the caucus continues to grow over time. A political caucus can also be referred to as a coalition, task force, or study group.
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