I've been reading a lot of conflicting information about the U.S. health care reform bill (HR 3200) and its potential impact on different groups of Americans. I tried to read the bill, but it's over a thousand pages and is written in mind-numbing legalese. Is there a place online where I can find comprehensive, non-partisan, easily understandable information about the bill?
posted by zembla3 on Aug 18, 2009 - 12 answers

How can I show support for the new health care reform bill? [more inside]
posted by odayoday on Jul 15, 2009 - 9 answers

Why do witnesses testifying before congress need lawyers? [more inside]
posted by IndigoJones on Jul 6, 2009 - 18 answers

I want to write my U.S. Congressman on at least one delicate topic. But, I'm kind of paranoid that my letter will become public record that is subject to a FOIA request. I have a very distinctive name that when Googled, I pop up immediately in the form of my professional profile. I don't want what I write to my Congressman to be available to anyone to read and who then pops my name into a search engine and they find me on the internet. Am I disenfranchised from making my opinion known or can I write without fear? FYI - there is nothing I can do about my name or my profile being on the internet.
posted by Leezie on Jun 22, 2009 - 12 answers

How many members of the United States Congress have tattoos?
posted by boots on Apr 29, 2009 - 10 answers

I am trying to find web sites where I could send members of my organization to customize an email message that would then be sent to their proper Congressman. [more inside]
posted by cgk on Mar 16, 2009 - 9 answers

Wikipedia has a wicked diagram of where everyone sits in the House of Commons. Does anyone know of a similar diagram for the US House of Representatives?
posted by Dr. Send on Nov 25, 2008 - 6 answers

How can I research how a particular act of the U.S. Congress came into existence - with as much detail as is possible about how it changed from proposal to final act and how it was influenced along the way? [more inside]
posted by croutonsupafreak on Nov 8, 2008 - 12 answers

On November 4th, I intend to spend the evening watching election returns on TV and refreshing as many election-y tabs on the laptop as possible. What websites should I have loaded and ready to go? [more inside]
posted by rtha on Oct 24, 2008 - 25 answers

I need help writing a letter to my congressmen about The Bailout! [more inside]
posted by MiggySawdust on Sep 22, 2008 - 17 answers

What is the most effective way of expressing my outrage to my government? [more inside]
posted by toastchee on Sep 21, 2008 - 23 answers

Where can I find the recent government report that claims that Iraq has achieved 15 of 18 benchmarks set for its political development? [more inside]
posted by zainsubani on Jul 17, 2008 - 11 answers

What makes a U.S congressional bill non-binding? Is there a way to tell from the text of the bill itself? [more inside]
posted by metadave on Jun 23, 2008 - 11 answers

Can I get Congressional Voting Records in an easily parsed format? [more inside]
posted by SAC on Apr 10, 2008 - 4 answers

Two to three questions involving the pending FISA bill--specifically the immunity provisions. [more inside]
posted by dsword on Jan 24, 2008 - 13 answers

American history question: before modern transportation, how much time did congressmen spend in Washington and how much in their home states? Especially those from, say, California. And how long did the journey take? [more inside]
posted by creasy boy on Jan 10, 2008 - 13 answers

Why is the US House pushing to declare the deaths of Armenians as a genocide committed by the then Ottoman Empire/now Turkey? [more inside]
posted by SeizeTheDay on Oct 14, 2007 - 41 answers

How many of the current crop of 535 US congress people have law degrees?
posted by iconjack on Sep 8, 2007 - 9 answers

How many United States Congressmen are parents? [more inside]
posted by hyperfascinated on May 22, 2007 - 11 answers

[AppropriationsFilter] If the Democrats vote *against* funding the troop escalation, what recourse does the President have to follow through with his plan? [more inside]
posted by willie11 on Feb 7, 2007 - 4 answers

How do new legislators learn all the congressional rules of order? [more inside]
posted by empath on Jan 5, 2007 - 14 answers

Pseudoephedrine- Why are we taking this laying down? [more inside]
posted by chairface on Nov 27, 2006 - 50 answers

Will the Dems take the Senate and/or the House on Tuesday? [more inside]
posted by Optamystic on Nov 4, 2006 - 18 answers

So, not that it matters, but, were I to make a paltry political contribution, what would be the most strategic fund for a donation? [more inside]
posted by cytherea on Oct 19, 2006 - 16 answers

Does anyone know where I can find a video of Rep. Cynthia McKinney singing P!nk's "Dear Mr. President" during her concession speech last night?
posted by awesomebrad on Aug 9, 2006 - 4 answers

Is there an online tool that simplifies writing similar letters to each of one's elected officials? [more inside]
posted by chefscotticus on Jul 30, 2006 - 3 answers

What is the most effective way of influencing my senator or representative? [more inside]
posted by justkevin on Jul 30, 2006 - 23 answers

Is the United States "at war" or not? If Congress only authorized the use of force against Iraq, and did not formally declare war, what is our status under the Constitution? What about Afganistan?
posted by sushrob on Jan 16, 2006 - 18 answers

Please help me find this interview with former House Appropriations Chairman Jamie Whitten of Mississippi. [more inside]
posted by Mr. Justice on Dec 6, 2005 - 3 answers

How do you run for Congress? [more inside]
posted by papakwanz on Nov 29, 2005 - 16 answers

How many attempts have there been to pass a constitutional amendment that limits marriage to a relationship between a man and a woman? [more inside]
posted by xoe26 on Nov 20, 2005 - 5 answers

Where can I find a complete transcript, preferably in a single PDF file (or at the most 4 or 5) of the House and Senate deliberations, debates and votes over Bill Clinton's impeachment? [more inside]
posted by paperpete on Nov 11, 2005 - 3 answers

What does it really mean to "overturn" a Supreme Court decision? [more inside]
posted by MrMoonPie on Aug 10, 2005 - 9 answers

Where could I find transcripts for the congressional Enron hearings?
posted by Scottk on Apr 25, 2005 - 5 answers

I am trying to find a list of staffers and the issues they focus on for specific U.S. Senators and Representatives. [more inside]
posted by ..ooOOoo....ooOOoo.. on Mar 21, 2005 - 5 answers

Is there such a thing as a freely available database of Congresspeople? Names, districts, party affiliations, etc. Preferably easily loadable into a MySQL database. You'd think with the success of grassroots politics on the web someone would be offering one, but everything I've found wants me to pay a significant amount of money for one.
posted by crawl on Mar 4, 2005 - 7 answers

Is there a partisan-agnostic email alert for the US Congress available? [m-to-the-i] [more inside]
posted by plemeljr on Jun 7, 2004 - 4 answers

Does anyone know where I can find a copy of Mr. Roger's speech to Congress (?) defending the funds allocated to public television? A transcription is fine, but I'd also love a movie of it. [more inside]
posted by o2b on Jun 6, 2004 - 5 answers