CAUCUS Definition & Meaning

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caucus

[kaw-kuhs]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

caucuses

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

verb (used without object)

to hold or meet in a caucus.

verb (used with object)

to bring up or hold for discussion in a caucus.
The subject was caucused.
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

/ ˈ��ɔː��ə�� /

noun

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
1. a group of leading politicians of one party
2. a meeting of such a group
a local meeting of party members
a group or faction within a larger group, esp a political party, who discuss tactics, choose candidates, etc
a group of MPs from one party who meet to discuss tactics, etc
a formal meeting of all Members of Parliament belonging to one political party

verb

(intr) to hold a caucus

caucus

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.

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51�Թ� 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 �첹û��ǲ�; perhaps from Virginia Algonquian Cawcawwassough “elders of the Chickahominy people”

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of caucus¹

C18: probably of Algonquian origin; related to caucauasu adviser

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Four candidates made brief appearances before the party’s powerful organized labor caucus, trying to make the case that they would be the best choice for the state’s more than 2.4 million union members.

From

Aref Aziz, a leader of the party’s Asian American Pacific Islander caucus, said the party needed to sharpen its messaging on economic issues if they want to have a chance of victory in coming elections.

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In addition to addressing delegates at caucus meetings, such as labor, environmental, Latino and women voters, candidates will meet with donors and court activists throughout the weekend.

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“You had your chance,” Graham said to the caucus.

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That argument has isolated Thanedar within the Democratic caucus, prompting him to drop his push for an immediate vote on the matter.

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Related 51�Թ�s

convention��
gathering��
meeting��
session��

Cauchy's inequality cauda

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