Tracking Congressional Promises: A Civic Tech Project

Hey guys! Let's dive into an exciting civic tech project focused on collecting promises made by our congress members. This is a super cool initiative aiming to increase transparency and accountability in government. Basically, we want to build a system that tracks what our elected officials say they'll do and then compare that to what they actually do. Think of it as a fact-checking system for democracy! This is not just about pointing fingers; it's about understanding how well our representatives are serving their constituents and where there might be gaps between promises and actions. By shining a light on these discrepancies, we hope to empower citizens to make more informed decisions and hold their representatives accountable.

Project Goal: Bridging the Gap Between Promises and Action

The main goal here is to create a data-driven system that collects the promises of various members of Congress. Imagine a database where we can easily access the pledges and commitments made by our elected officials. But we're not stopping there! The ultimate vision is to link these promises with the actual actions and voting records of these individuals. This connection will allow us to visualize the difference between what was promised and what was delivered. And the cherry on top? We'll develop a scorecard that quantifies this difference, giving citizens a clear and concise view of their representatives' performance. This project isn't about gotcha journalism; it's about providing a comprehensive and objective assessment of our elected officials' performance. We believe that informed citizens are empowered citizens, and by providing this data, we can foster a more engaged and accountable democracy.

This project has the potential to transform how we understand and engage with our political system. By creating a transparent and accessible record of promises made and actions taken, we can empower citizens to hold their representatives accountable and make informed decisions. This is about building trust and fostering a more responsive government. Think about the impact – a citizen could easily research a candidate's past promises before an election, or track how their representative is performing on key issues. This level of transparency is crucial for a healthy democracy, and we're excited to be at the forefront of this effort.

Project Phases: Building a Transparent System

To make this grand vision a reality, we've broken the project down into three key phases. This allows us to tackle the project in a manageable and strategic way, ensuring we build a solid foundation for future growth. Each phase has its own set of challenges and goals, but they all contribute to the overall mission of creating a transparent and accountable system for tracking congressional promises.

Phase 1: Creating a Data Structure of Promises

In Phase 1, the focus is on building the foundation: a robust data structure of promises. We're starting small, probably by focusing on senators first. This allows us to refine our methodology and build a scalable system. Think of this phase as building the library – we need to create a well-organized system to store all the information we'll be collecting. This involves identifying reliable sources for promises, such as campaign websites, speeches, and interviews. We'll need to develop a consistent format for recording these promises, ensuring that the data is accurate, comprehensive, and easily searchable. This phase is crucial because the quality of our data structure will directly impact the effectiveness of the entire project. We'll be exploring different data storage options, defining data fields, and developing a process for data entry and verification. Accuracy and consistency are paramount here, as we want to build a reliable resource for citizens and researchers alike.

Phase 2: Marrying Promise Data with Congressional Actions

Phase 2 is where things get really interesting! This is where we marry the promise data with what our congress people actually do. This involves digging into voting records, bill sponsorships, committee activities, and other official actions. It's like connecting the dots between what was said and what was done. This phase requires meticulous research and data analysis. We'll be using various data sources to track congressional actions, and we'll need to develop algorithms and processes to link these actions to specific promises. This is a complex task, as actions can be interpreted in different ways, and it's important to establish clear criteria for determining whether a promise has been kept or broken. We'll also need to consider the context in which actions are taken, as unforeseen circumstances can sometimes impact a representative's ability to fulfill a promise. This phase is the heart of the project, as it's where we start to see the real picture of how our representatives are performing.

Phase 3: Creating a Scorecard

Finally, in Phase 3, we'll use the data we've collected to create a scorecard. This scorecard will provide a clear, concise, and visual representation of how well each congress person's promises match up with their execution. Think of it as a performance review for our elected officials! The scorecard will likely incorporate various metrics, such as the percentage of promises kept, the degree to which promises were fulfilled, and the impact of actions taken. We'll be working to develop a scoring system that is fair, transparent, and easy to understand. The goal is to provide citizens with a quick and reliable way to assess their representatives' performance. This scorecard will be a powerful tool for accountability, empowering citizens to make informed decisions and hold their representatives responsible for their actions. It's the culmination of all our hard work, and it has the potential to make a real difference in how our democracy functions.

Helpful Resources: Guiding Our Project

Daniel S. shared some fantastic resources that will help guide us in the right direction. These resources offer valuable insights into congressional data, voting records, and existing accountability efforts. By leveraging these tools and insights, we can avoid reinventing the wheel and build upon the existing knowledge base. It's all about working smarter, not harder!

• https://web.archive.org/: This is a goldmine for looking at past congressional websites and seeing what promises were made in the past. The Internet Archive is an invaluable resource for historical research, and it will be crucial for tracking promises made in previous election cycles. By accessing archived websites, we can get a comprehensive view of a representative's past commitments and see how they have evolved over time. This historical perspective is essential for providing a complete and accurate assessment of their performance.
• https://www.thealmanacofamericanpolitics.com/index.aspx: This resource provides information on how congress people vote, which is crucial for Phase 2. The Almanac of American Politics offers detailed profiles of members of Congress, including their voting records, committee assignments, and policy positions. This information will be vital for linking promises to actions and assessing whether a representative's votes align with their stated commitments. By analyzing voting patterns, we can gain a deeper understanding of a representative's priorities and how they are representing their constituents.
• https://www.aclu.org/scorecard/: The ACLU scorecard provides an example of how to score congress members, offering a great model for Phase 3. The ACLU's scorecard focuses on civil liberties issues, providing a valuable framework for developing our own scorecard that encompasses a broader range of promises and actions. By studying the ACLU's methodology, we can learn best practices for scoring, weighting criteria, and presenting data in a clear and accessible way. This will help us ensure that our scorecard is fair, accurate, and effective in promoting accountability.

This project is a marathon, not a sprint, but the potential impact on civic engagement and government accountability is huge. Let's get to work, guys! By leveraging these resources and working collaboratively, we can build a powerful tool for transparency and empower citizens to hold their representatives accountable. This is more than just a tech project; it's a step towards a more informed and engaged democracy.