A voluntary
membership organization in Congress centering around a particular issue or
cause.
For the
First Time in Forever
Though they
are not mentioned in the Constitution, caucuses, sometimes referred to as
Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs), have been a part of American
government since the earliest days of the republic. Members of Congress have
always coalesced around informal member organizations, the predecessors to
today’s caucuses. Early examples
include those related to the War of 1812, temperance, and abolition.
There are hundreds of caucuses today, broken down by ideology, affinity, and
other common interests. The leading ideological caucuses are the Congressional
Progressive Caucus and the Republican Study Committee. The Congressional Black
Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus, collectively known as the Tri-Caucus, are extremely
influential.
Caucus
issues run the gambit, from curing rare diseases or foreign policy initiatives
to emerging policy issues like the eLearning Caucus. Others are dedicated to more lighthearted causes like ice
cream, beer, and sports. Caucuses are not nearly as prevalent in the Senate,
with only one being
officially recognized in the upper chamber, thus leading some senators to join
House caucuses on issues about which they are passionate.
Do You
Want to Build a Caucus?
Any member
of Congress can form a caucus. The process begins by electronically registering the caucus with the
Committee on House Administration. Caucuses need to be reconstituted with the
start of a new Congress every two years. Once House Administration approves the
establishment of a caucus, it is officially listed on their website, and its
co-chairs and founding members can begin adding additional members. While
members are limited on how many committees they can serve, there is no limit to
the number of caucuses a member can join.
House
Administration makes clear that caucuses are not considered an employing
authority and have no separate legal identity. But the Committee does allow for
members to use personal funds to support the organization as well as receive goods or
services from private organizations or individuals. Caucuses are often run
behind the scenes by senior staff in the offices of the co-chairs, who are
often the primary points of contact.
Some
Things Never Change
Caucuses can
play a significant role in how Congress addresses policy issues. Caucus events
educate members, staff, and the public on complex or obscure issues, serve as a
starting point for identifying offices active on a particular policy area, and
guide congressional outreach and ally development. Though the total number of
caucuses may reach 500 in the coming years, they will remain an effective tool
in furthering specific legislative goals and celebrating shared joys.