Learn How Congress Works
A plain-language guide to the U.S. Congress — no political science degree required. Pick a topic below, or start with how a bill becomes law.
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How It Works
Understanding Voting Records
What roll calls are, what 'not voting' means, and how to read them.
Where Congress Gets Its Power
Article I of the Constitution and the specific powers it grants.
Checks and Balances
How the three branches keep each other from getting too powerful.
Who Holds Congress Accountable?
There's no HR department. Here's what exists instead.
Attendance: Can They Just Not Show Up?
There's no law requiring members to come to work. Seriously.
Follow the Money
Campaign Finance 101
Who funds campaigns, what PACs are, and why it matters.
Pay, Benefits, and Pensions
What members earn, how their benefits work, and pension rules.
Office Budgets: What They Can Spend
The $1.9 million per year each House member gets — and the rules around it.
Stock Trading and Financial Conflicts
Members can trade stocks while writing laws that affect those companies.
Rules & Ethics
Gifts: What Members Can Accept
The $50 limit, the loopholes, and what's actually banned.
Travel: Who Pays and What's Allowed
Official trips, privately-funded travel, and the franking privilege.
Lobbying and the Revolving Door
12,000+ registered lobbyists, the rules they follow, and the ones they bend.
Security and Protection
Who gets protection, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
Quick Reference
Glossary of Congressional Terms
33 terms defined in plain English — H.R., filibuster, cloture, PAC, reconciliation, and more.
Ready to explore the data? See what your representatives are actually doing.