How to Research Members of Congress
- 1). Locate your members' websites by going to house.gov and senate.gov. Each site contains a function with which you can search members' names and states. Review your member's site for information about his or her background, education, prior employment, committee assignments and positions on important issues. Get contact information, including Washington and district office addresses as well as telephone and fax numbers, from the site.
- 2). Go to the Library of Congress website at thomas.loc.gov. The site's links and search functions can help you find your representative's bills, voting record and mentions in the Congressional Record. Use the drop-down menu under "Browse Bills by Sponsor" to find the bills. Click "Congressional Record" in the left-hand column to search the record for your member's recorded votes on bills and amendments.
- 3). Search political websites such as votesmart.org and ontheissues.org for links to biographical information, public issues statements, campaign finance reports and interest group ratings.
- 4). Consult the Congressional Directory. At the beginning of each new Congress, the Joint Committee on Printing publishes this directory with brief biographies of the members of Congress, their committee assignments and staff names, and other information.
- 5). Contact the representative's district office for copies of public statements or if you have specific questions.
