U.S. Elections
Exit Polls: Surveying the American Electorate 1927-2010 by Call Number: e-bookPublication Date: 2012Every two years, exit polls become the most widely analyzed, written about and discussed data-set in the United States. Although exit polls are known for their use in predicting elections, they are in fact the best tool for explaining election results.
- Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential ElectionsThe Atlas aggregates official election results from all 50 states, including Washington D.C.
- MIT Election Data Science LabA clearinghouse for data sets that can fuel studies on elections and how they're conducted. Find election data and research tools produced by MIT and others.
- American National Election StudiesProvides immediate access to tables and graphs that display the ebb and flow of public opinion, electoral behavior, and choice in American politics over time.
- ANES variable search toolTry this variable search tool if you can't find the data that you are seeking through the ANES guide.
Finding Datasets
Finding datasets
The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, part of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. You can search by topic, series, geography, investigator, or thematic collection
https://www.re3data.org/ a search tool to find data sets in different locations
Local and state government data through https://www.data.gov/open-gov/
Other government datasets through data.gov
U.S. Government
- American FactFinderThe U.S. Census bureau's extensive database search tool for population, housing, economic and geographic information.
- Census BureauExtensive data collection from the decennial census of population and housing, economic census survey data of American business and the economy, census of governments and the popular world and U.S. population clock and Quick Facts search.
- Supreme Court of the United StatesAccess court filings and rules, opinions, case documents, oral arguments, speeches and more.
- The White HouseFollow the White House briefings, explore the administration's top issues and key players in the administration.
- USA.govUS government portal site, with guidance on how to access the vast information resources of the US Government
- GovInfoProvides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.
- The United States Government ManualFor over eight decades, The United States Government Manual has been the "official handbook" of the Federal Government. The Government Manual is a regularly updated special edition of the Federal Register. Its contents include leadership tables and descriptions of agency activities and programs of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of Government, as well as activities and programs of quasi-official agencies and international organizations in which the United States participates as a member.
U.S. Congress
- Congress.govInformation about Congress, including the procedures for passing laws, links to the text of bills and public laws, the Congressional Record, and roll call votes.
- Every CRSThe Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides detailed, thoroughly researched reports on hundreds of timely topics to Congress members and their staff.
- GovTrackTrack the U.S. Congress through a website operated by an independent organization committed to increasing citizen participation in government.
- Open SecretsThis site reveals publicly available information about donations to candidates for federal office.
- U.S. House of RepresentativesDaily activity, live house floor proceedings, background on members, legislation and history are also provided here.
- U.S. SenateMeet the senators, see what committees they serve on, and track legislation. Art and history of the Senate, and reference sources are also available.
- Members of the U.S. CongressFind comprehensive contact information on representatives and senators in the U.S. Congress.
State Politics
- The Book of the States archiveSince 1933, The Council of State Governments (CSG) has served as a resource for state leaders, providing relevant, accurate and timely information, answers and comparisons for all 56 states, commonwealths and territories of the United States.
- State of Rhode Island General AssemblyThe RI General Assembly site contains legislative information, reports, information on elected officials, news and information on the intern program.
- Follow the MoneyA nonprofit organization provides election overviews and funding, and tracks lobbyists and their expenditures on the state level.
- National Conference of State LegislaturesNCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.