Everything you need to get the most out of Capitol Trace. No political science degree required.

Capitol Trace aggregates data from 27+ public government sources and connects the dots politicians hope you won't. This guide explains every feature in plain English — what it does, how to read it, and what questions it can help you answer.

Getting Started

Your First 5 Minutes

What is Capitol Trace?

Features

How to Read a Member Dossier

Understanding the SCIF

Follow the Money

Stock Watch Explained

Lobbying 101

Executive Orders

Reading Ideology Scores

Super PACs & Dark Money

Your State Scorecard

Compare Your Record

Reference

How We Get Our Data

Data Freshness & Update Schedule

FAQ