Our Data Philosophy
Politidex is built on a foundation of comprehensive, verified, and transparent data sources. We believe that informed democracy requires access to accurate information about political processes, decisions, and influences.
This page details the sources we use, our data collection methodologies, and our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and transparency in political intelligence.
Primary Data Sources
Congressional Records
Official voting records, bill sponsorships, and legislative activities
Source: Congress.gov, House.gov, Senate.gov
Campaign Finance
Political donations, expenditures, and financial disclosures
Source: FEC.gov, OpenSecrets.org
Lobbying Data
Registered lobbyists, clients, and expenditure reports
Source: Senate Lobbying Database
Public Statements
Press releases, speeches, and official communications
Source: Official websites, press offices
Government & Official Sources
Federal Level
- • Congress.gov
- • FEC.gov
- • WhiteHouse.gov
- • USASpending.gov
- • Ethics.house.gov
- • Ethics.senate.gov
State Level
- • State legislature websites
- • Secretary of State offices
- • State ethics commissions
- • Governor offices
- • State campaign finance boards
Local Level
- • City council records
- • County government sites
- • Municipal databases
- • Local election offices
- • Public meeting minutes
Data Update Frequency
Government sources are monitored continuously, with most data updated within 24-48 hours of official publication.
Verified Third-Party Sources
Research Organizations
- • Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org)
Campaign finance and lobbying data - • Ballotpedia
Election and candidate information - • GovTrack.us
Legislative tracking and analysis - • Vote Smart
Voting records and positions
Academic Institutions
- • Brookings Institution
Policy research and analysis - • American Enterprise Institute
Economic and political research - • Center for Strategic & International Studies
Foreign policy and security - • Pew Research Center
Public opinion and demographic data
Source Verification Process
All third-party sources undergo rigorous vetting for accuracy, bias assessment, and reliability before integration into our platform.
Data Collection Methodology
Automated Collection
APIs and web scraping for real-time data updates
Manual Verification
Human review of critical data points and anomalies
Cross-Referencing
Multiple source validation for accuracy assurance
Quality Assurance Process
- 1. Initial Collection: Data gathered from primary sources
- 2. Automated Validation: Consistency checks and format verification
- 3. Cross-Reference Check: Comparison with multiple sources
- 4. Editorial Review: Human oversight for context and accuracy
- 5. Publication: Data released with source attribution
- 6. Ongoing Monitoring: Continuous updates and corrections
Data Categories & Coverage
Legislative Data
- • Voting records (House & Senate)
- • Bill sponsorships and co-sponsorships
- • Committee assignments and activities
- • Amendment proposals and votes
- • Floor speeches and statements
Financial Data
- • Campaign contributions and donors
- • PAC and Super PAC funding
- • Lobbying expenditures
- • Personal financial disclosures
- • Government contract awards
Biographical Information
- • Educational background
- • Professional history
- • Committee memberships
- • Leadership positions
- • Electoral history
Influence Networks
- • Lobbying contacts and meetings
- • Think tank affiliations
- • Board memberships
- • Speaking engagements
- • Social and professional connections
Data Limitations & Disclaimers
Reporting Delays
Some data sources have mandatory reporting periods (quarterly, annually) which may result in delays between events and their appearance in our database.
Incomplete Records
Historical data may be incomplete due to changes in reporting requirements, lost records, or varying disclosure standards over time.
Source Dependencies
Our data quality is dependent on the accuracy and completeness of our sources. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information provided by third parties.
We continuously work to improve data coverage and accuracy. Users are encouraged to report any discrepancies or missing information through our corrections process.
Data Access & API
We believe in data transparency and provide multiple ways for researchers, journalists, and citizens to access our data:
Public API
Programmatic access to our datasets
Data Exports
CSV and JSON downloads
Research Partnership
Collaboration opportunities
Attribution Requirements
When using our data, please cite "Politidex" and include a link to our Data Sources page. Commercial use requires explicit permission.
Data Team Contact
For questions about our data sources, methodology, or to suggest new sources:
Data Team
data@politidex.com
Technical questions and API support
Research Director
research@politidex.com
Methodology and source suggestions