Answer: caucus
A caucus is a meeting of members belonging to a particular political party or movement.
The term is thought to have originated in the United States. During the 1800s, Congressional party or a state legislature party caucus selected the party's presidential candidates, as there is no provision for political parties in the Constitution. These caucuses were replaced by the party convention in 1832. However, caucuses still exist at the state level, with cases such as the Iowa caucuses and the Texas caucuses.