Final answer:
When Democrats gather to elect their house leaders every two years in the House, it is referred to as a caucus, a term used for meetings where party members select candidates, elect leaders, and discuss legislative strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Democrats gather in the House to elect their house leaders every two years, this is called a caucus.
A caucus is a meeting of members of a political party to select candidates, elect leaders, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters. In the context of the U.S. Congress, both the Republican and Democratic parties hold these meetings in their respective party caucuses or conferences. For Democrats, the term 'caucus' is used more frequently.
The party caucus plays a critical role in shaping the legislative agenda, determining committee membership, and electing the party leadership in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. An example of the influence of caucuses is the Iowa Democratic Caucus, which is notable for its active member participation in selecting delegates and showing support for presidential candidates.