From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms
Blue Dog Coalition / CMO
The Blue Dog Coalition is a congressional member organization (CMO) made up of “conservative” House Democrats.
Van Hollen on Blue Dog Democrats
A few of the other CMOs as of 2012 include:
- Central American Caucus
- Community College Caucus
- Congressional Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)
- Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)
- Congressional Bourbon Caucus
- Congressional Caribbean Caucus
- Congressional Caucus on Lumber
- Congressional Caucus on Unmanned Systems
- Congressional Center Aisle Caucus
- Congressional Chicken Caucus
- Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus
- Congressional Flat Tax Caucus
- Congressional Gaming Caucus
- Congressional High Technology Caucus
- Congressional Internet Caucus
Martin Cooper, Father of the Portable Cellular Phone, Addresses the Congressional Internet Caucus
- Congressional Library of Congress Caucus
- Congressional Media Fairness Caucus
- Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus
- Congressional Motorcycle Caucus
- Congressional Navy and Marine Corps Caucus
- Congressional Prayer Caucus
- Congressional Privately-Held and Family Owned Business Caucus
- Congressional Rice Caucus
- Congressional Shellfish Caucus
- Congressional Tire Caucus
- Congressional Transparency Caucus
- Congressional Wine Caucus
- Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus
- Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus
- Fix Congress Now Caucus
- GOP Doctors Caucus
- House Bike Caucus
- House Organic Caucus
- House Republican Israel Caucus
- House Small Brewers Caucus
- House Tea Party Caucus
- Israel Allies Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition
- Pro-Life Women’s Caucus
- Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus
- Republican New Media Caucus
- Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus
- U.S. – Mexico Friendship Caucus
A complete list of Congressional Member Organizations (CMO) and Congressional Staff Organizations (CSO) can be found on the web site of the Committee on House Administration under “Member Services”.
Informal groups, caucuses, congressional member organizations (CMOs)–the terms all relate to the same thing: they refer to ad hoc social or policy groups comprising a limited number of members of Congress from one or both houses. The groups are not recognized in chamber rules and are voluntary associations. Some have long lineages; others appear for just a few Congresses. They operate outside the formal committee structure and apart from the official party organizations. However, caucuses are an important link in the policy chain. Members joining these entities initiate policy actions, and their work touches on all aspects of the legislative arena.
Caucuses vary in membership, range of interest, issue focus, activity, and strategy. Some are formed to influence policy; some serve as information clearinghouses. Some represent constituency interests; others are aimed primarily at the orientation of new members. Some groups exist to develop member expertise on an issue; others exist to serve as liaison with outside organizations. Some groups are partisan; others are bipartisan. Some represent members of one chamber only; others are bicameral. Some meet frequently; some meet occasionally; some never meet. These groups represent the many policy and other concerns of the members of Congress.
Rep. Sanford Bishop Floor Statement regarding Blue Dog Democrats, Bipartisanship
Most groups have chairs, and many also have co-chairs. Groups that are made up mostly of House members often have steering or executive committees. Larger caucuses often organize their members into subgroups representing regional or ideological perspectives. Almost all groups rely on staff from their members’ personal offices to do the work of the caucus.
§ 5.121 Selected Caucuses and Informal Groups, in Congressional Deskbook.
More
- Caucus / Congressional Member Organization / CMO / Congressional Staff Organization / CSO (CongressionalGlossary.com)
- Blue Dog Coalition PAC
- Committee on House Administration
- Congressional Member (CMO) and Staff (CSO) Organizations – Committee on House Administration
- New Democrat Coalition – House
- Blue Dog Coalition – Wikipedia
- “Congressional Member Organizations: Their Purpose and Activities, History, and Formation,” CRS Report R40683 (28-page PDF
)
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