Terms of use
Last updated October 21, 2026
These terms apply to congressreportcard.org (the "site"), which is run by Darrell Burch. By using the site you agree to them. If you don't agree, please don't use the site.
What the site provides
The site publishes letter grades and related statistics for current members of the U.S. Congress, calculated from public records, along with articles that explain them. The grades are an opinion about legislative participation, based on the method described on the methodology page. They are not an official rating, an endorsement or a statement about any member's character, competence or fitness for office.
Accuracy
The data is rebuilt every night from Voteview, Congress.gov and other public sources, and care is taken to calculate it correctly. Even so, the sources can contain errors or delays, bill progress is estimated from each bill's latest recorded action, and the site's own code can have mistakes. The site is provided "as is", without any warranty that the information is complete, accurate or current. Please check important facts against the official record, which each report card links to. If you find an error, please report it.
Using the grades, badges and images
You are welcome to:
- link to any page on the site;
- quote grades and statistics, with credit to Congress Report Card and a link to the page;
- embed the grade badges and share the report card images the site creates, without changing them.
Please don't present the grades as coming from Congress or any government body, alter a badge or image so that it shows a different grade, or use the site's name in a way that suggests it endorses a candidate, party or cause. Campaigns and organizations may cite a member's grade, but not in a way that implies the site supports or opposes anyone.
Using the site
Don't use the site in a way that disrupts it for others, such as sending automated traffic heavy enough to slow it down. Reasonable automated access for research or archiving is fine. The underlying public data is available directly from its sources, which are listed on the methodology page.
Content and code
The articles, text and design of the site belong to Congress Report Card, except where noted. Member photographs come from the public unitedstates/images project. Government records used on the site are in the public domain. The code that builds the site is published on GitHub so that anyone can see how grades are calculated.
Links to other sites
The site links to Congress.gov, members' official websites and other outside sources. Congress Report Card doesn't control those sites and isn't responsible for their content or their privacy practices.
Advertising
The site shows advertising from Google AdSense. Advertisers have no influence over the grades or articles. The privacy policy explains how advertising cookies are used.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent the law allows, Congress Report Card and its operator are not liable for any loss or damage that results from using the site or relying on its information.
Changes
These terms may be updated from time to time. The new version will be posted on this page with a new date. Continuing to use the site after a change means you accept the updated terms.
Contact
Questions about these terms can be sent to contact@congressreportcard.org.