Overview
OpenCongress is a free, nonpartisan platform designed to make congressional information accessible to everyone. We believe that understanding what happens in Congress shouldn't require specialized knowledge or expensive subscriptions.
Our mission is simple: provide clear, accurate, and timely information about congressional activity, from roll-call votes to legislation, without editorial bias or political spin.
Data Sources
All congressional data on OpenCongress comes directly from official government sources. We don't filter, editorialize, or modify the data in any way.
Congress.gov API
Official SourceOperated by the Library of Congress, this is the authoritative source for all congressional data including votes, legislation, and member information.
Learn more about the APIWhat we track:
- Roll-call votes — Every recorded vote in the House and Senate
- Legislation — Bills, resolutions, and their full text
- Member information — Profiles, committee assignments, and campaign finance
- Committee hearings — Schedules, witnesses, and related legislation
- Nominations — Presidential nominations and confirmation proceedings
- Floor schedules — House and Senate floor activity and expected votes
How Data is Updated
We sync data from Congress.gov on a regular schedule to ensure you have access to the latest information. Different types of data are updated at different frequencies based on how often they change.
| Data Type | Update Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | Hourly during session | 9am–9pm ET on weekdays |
| Bills | Daily | Every morning |
| Hearings | Hourly during session | Committee hearing schedules |
| Nominations | Daily | Presidential nominations and actions |
| Floor schedules | Multiple times daily | House and Senate floor activity |
| Members | Weekly | Profiles and committee assignments |
| Campaign finance | Periodic | FEC filings and contributor data |
AI-Generated Content
We use AI to help make congressional information more accessible. All AI-generated content is clearly labeled so you always know what you're reading.
What's AI-generated:
- Bill summaries — Plain-English explanations of what legislation does
- Vote summaries — Context and analysis of roll-call votes
- Daily & weekly summaries — Recaps and previews of congressional activity
- Member bios — Brief biographical information
- Committee & hearing summaries — Overviews of committee work and hearing proceedings
- Nomination summaries — Context on presidential nominations
Our AI Principles
- Clearly labeled — AI content is always marked
- Nonpartisan — Written to be factual, not persuasive
- Source available — Original text always accessible
AI summaries are generated using Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash model, chosen for its speed and accuracy with factual content.
Technology
OpenCongress is built with modern, reliable technology to ensure a fast and accessible experience on any device.
Fast & Responsive
Built for speed with server-side rendering and optimized data loading
Works Everywhere
Designed to work on phones, tablets, and desktops
Secure
All connections encrypted with privacy-respecting analytics
Accessible
Built with accessibility in mind, including screen reader support
Open Source
OpenCongress is open source software. We believe transparency in civic technology starts with transparent code.
View on GitHub
Explore the code, report issues, or contribute
Ways to Contribute
- Report bugs — Found something broken? Let us know
- Suggest features — Have an idea? We'd love to hear it
- Contribute code — Pull requests are welcome