Page "Caucus" Paragraph 25

Another meaning is a sub grouping of officials with shared affinities or ethnicities who convene, often but not always to advocate, agitate, lobby or to vote collectively, on policy.

At the highest level, in Congress and many state legislatures, Democratic and Republican members organize themselves into a caucus ( occasionally called a " conference ").

There can be smaller caucuses in a legislative body, including those that are multi-partisan or even bicameral.

Of the many Congressional caucuses, one of the best-known is the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of African-American members of Congress.

Another prominent example is the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, whose members voice and advance issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

In a different vein, the Congressional Internet Caucus is a bipartisan group of Members who wish to promote the growth and advancement of the Internet.

Other congressional caucuses such as the Out of Iraq Caucus, are openly organized tendencies or political factions ( within the House Democratic Caucus, in this case ), and strive to achieve political goals, similar to a European " platform ", but generally organized around a single issue.