WASHINGTON -- Few congressional panels keep a lower profile than the Center Aisle Caucus, which is encouraging Republicans and Democrats to sit together during the State of the Union speech on Tuesday.

The caucus, made up of about 40 House members, doesn't announce its meetings, has no web site and does little or nothing to publicize its goals of promoting civility and persuading members of Congress of the value of socializing with one another.

But with the tenor of the pollitical debate having reached a low eb, leaders say the caucus intends to become more visible.

"Members just need to get to know each other personally a lot better. We all have a lot in common given our crazy lifestyles," said Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, co-founder and one of four co-chairs of the group.

Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, became a Center Aisle Caucus co-chair this month.

"In the aftermath of the Tucson shootings, it's especially important to work together in this divided Congress," said Carnahan.

"At its worst, we've seen violence. But all the time spent fighting and posturing stops us from addressing issues and getting things done," he said.

Some in Congress -- among then Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin (D) and Mark Kirk (R) -- already have said they intend to break tradition and sit together during President Barack Obama's address.

Audience response during the State of the Union had grown predictable over the years with dueling spasms of partisan cheering and applause.

Leaders of the Center Aisle Caucus today sent letters to all House members saying that convening Tuesday "as an undivided body" would set a good example.

"We believe members of Congress have an important and rare opportunity to express to the American people that their elected representatives share their desire for civil discourse in the service of energetic political debate," the letter reads.

Emerson and Carnahan expect a good deal of partisan mingling during the speech. Afterward, they will press the issue beyond what the letter referred to as "symbolic gestures."

Their Center Aisle Caucus plans to convene a forum next month at Washington University on civility in politics and invite other members of Congress to take part. A date has not been announced.

"I think it's a good idea to have conversations about this, not just in Washington but back in St. Louis where people can participate," Carnahan said.

Emerson harked back to the time when members of Congress and their families spent time together regardless of political affiliation. Such gathering enabled opponents to understand one another even if they disagreed on substantive issues, Emerson said.

"That whole dynamic has gone away," she said.

"There are going to be members who don't do the whole civility thing. But even if a little bit of it rubs off, it will be helpful," she added.