Guides to Congress, legislation, and contacting your representatives.
October 27, 2026 · 3 min read
Compare congressional candidates using dated statements, voting records and campaign finance filings. Keep the same fields and mark missing information clearly.
Read the guide →Learn what a congressional hearing does, how testimony and transcripts fit in, and when committee members vote on legislation.
2 min read
Learn how to use a nonprofit’s public Form 990, program-service descriptions, and disclosure rules when evaluating advocacy organizations.
4 min read
Learn how to read an appeals court ruling by identifying the court’s decision, reasoning, outcome, and next possible step.
3 min read
Learn how to interpret obligations, outlays, awards, recipients and reporting limits when using a government spending tracker.
3 min read
Learn how to read federal campaign finance data, compare filings, identify spending categories, and avoid common counting errors.
2 min read
A public comment period lets you respond to a proposed rule. Check the deadline, write a focused comment, and follow the agency’s submission instructions.
4 min read
Learn how to read congressional financial disclosures, distinguish annual reports from stock-trade reports, and understand value ranges and filing dates.
4 min read
Learn what a federal inspector general does, how to read an OIG report, and how to ask Congress about findings through Modern Action.
4 min read
See what the House Appropriations Committee does, what committee approval means, and how to follow federal funding bills in Modern Action.
3 min read
What lobbying means, how it differs from campaign donations, and how to contact your representatives about an issue or bill through Modern Action.
4 min read
Government shutdowns explained: which services continue, Social Security payments, federal employee pay, and how Congress restores funding.
4 min read
Learn what an appropriations bill funds, how it differs from a budget or authorization, and how to follow funding legislation in Modern Action.
4 min read
Understand U.S. AI laws, bills, agency enforcement, and voluntary standards. Follow legislation and contact Congress through Modern Action.
5 min read
