caucus
/ˈkɔːkəs
/noun (plural caucuses)
1(In some US states) a meeting at which local members of a political party register their preference among candidates running for office or select delegates to attend a convention: Hawaii holds its nominating caucuses next Tuesday he stumbled through the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary
2A conference of members of a legislative body who belong to a particular party or faction: Mr Kerry attended the morning caucus in the Old Senate Chamber where his fellow Democrats selected the new minority leadership
2.1The members of a legislative body who belong to a particular party or faction, considered as a group: she is renowned for her ability to unite her caucus
2.2An informal group composed of legislators who have shared concerns or interests: a member of the Congressional Black Caucus the Knesset's Christian allies caucus
A group within an organization or political party which meets independently to discuss strategy or tactics: up to fifty caucuses met daily on conference grounds to discuss lobbying strategies he was forced out by a hard-left caucus which had taken over his constituency party
verb (caucuses, caucusing, caucused) [no object] chiefly US
1Hold or form a legislative caucus: Republicans briefly caucused there is one Independent who caucuses with the Democrats
1.1(Of a voter) attend an electoral caucus, especially on behalf of a particular candidate: more than half of those young people that caucused yesterday caucused for Barack Obama
Origin
mid 18th century: perhaps from Algonquian cau'-cau'-as'u 'adviser'.