[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 1, Chapters 1 - 6]
[Chapter 3.  Party Organization]
[B. Party Caucus or Conference]
[Â§ 2. In General; Nature and Purposes]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 148-149]
 
                               CHAPTER 3
 
                           Party Organization
 
                     B. PARTY CAUCUS OR CONFERENCE
 
Sec. 2. In General; Nature and Purposes


    The primary party organizations in the House are the Democratic 
Caucus and the Republican Conference. Generally, the Democratic Caucus 
is composed of all Democratic Members of the House,(7) and 
the Republican Conference is composed of all Republican 
Members.(8) The main functions of the two party 
organizations are to promote unity; to determine party policy with 
respect to anticipated legislation; to select their respective 
candidates for the Speakership and other offices in the House; to 
choose party leaders; and to play a role in selecting party members for 
positions on

[[Page 149]]

House committees. These functions are discussed in detail in succeeding 
sections.
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 7. See Rule 1, Democratic Caucus Rules (July 20, 1971).
 8. See Riddick, Floyd M., Congressional Procedure, Chapman and Grimes 
        (Boston, 1941), p. 31.
            Collateral references: Binkley, Wilfred Ellsworth, American 
        Political Parties; Their Natural History, 4th edition, rev., 
        Alfred A. Knoph Co. (New York, 1972); Fine, Nathan, Labor and 
        Farmer Parties in the United States, 1828-1928, Russell and 
        Russell (New York, 1961); Haynes, Frederick E., Third Party 
        Movements Since the Civil War, Russell and Russell (New York, 
        1966); Hesseltine, William B., Third Party Movements in the 
        United States, Van Nostrand (Princeton, N.J., 1962); Hicks, 
        John Donald, The Populist Revolts; A History of the Farmers' 
        Alliance and the People's Party, University of Nebraska Press 
        (Lincoln, 1961); Nash, Howard Pervear, Third Parties in 
        American Politics, Public Affairs Press (Washington, D.C., 
        1959); Ripley, Randall B., Party Leaders in the House of 
        Representatives, The Brookings Institution (Washington, 1967) 
        pp. 41-46 (development of party caucuses); Steadman, Murry 
        Salisbury and Susan W. Stedman, Discontent at the Polls; A 
        Study of Farmer and Labor Parties, 1827-1948, Russell and 
        Russell (New York, 1967).
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