Source Data and API License Terms

GovTrack provides a comprehensive, bulk database about the U.S. Congress. We are trying hard to get the Library of Congress to pick up the slack, but in the meanwhile we are the only source of this information that stands behind principles of open government data.

That said, a lot of energy goes into making the database available and we think it is reasonable if we don't allow other businesses to get a free ride on our work. Our standard policy is as follows:

Standard License Policy

• Any data files we make available from the Source Data page for which we own the copyright we release into the public domain. Use them for any purpose. Attribution with a link back to GovTrack.us would be appreciated.
• No warranty is provided for this data, and, by downloading the data, you agree that we shall not be liable for inaccuracies or other problems in the data or documentation, and that you indemnify us harmless against any claims resulting from your use of the data. Use at your own risk. We reserve the right to change these terms on a periodical basis.
• Unless we have explicitly denied you access to the data and APIs, you are permitted and encouraged to download the data and access the APIs following the guidelines specified on their respective pages and subject to normal Internet etiquette.
• We reserve the right to discontinue your access to our source data and APIs for any reason at any time.

If your use of the data or API is for noncommercial purposes, then all the more power to you. Join our mail list if you need any help using it.

If you plan to use the data or API in a commercial product or plan to redistribute the data in bulk, you need to contact us at if you want to establish a service agreement. This may or may not entail a fee. If you can contribute something back to the open government data community, such as more data under a nonrestrictive license, then we will be quite likely to grant you a license at no charge right away.

Service Agreement Template

If you need an agreement that guarantees your ongoing access to our source data or APIs, we will likely use the following template, but other terms are negotiable. Contact us at for details.

• We agree to make the source data and APIs available to you for a one-year period, subject to the following terms.
• Access must follow the recommendations given on the source data and API pages. API calls must not be excessive. (Separate terms are needed for a guarantee on a certain number of API calls as we are not sure what capacity we have currently.)
• We will make a good faith effort to restore service after any technical failures and to not make any data format changes without sufficient notice posted to the mail list. If access cannot be provided for any reason, such as a technical failure, it will not be a breach of this agreement but you will be entitled to a pro-rated reimbursement at the end of the calendar month for the time in which the data or API was not available so long as the reimbursement is at least 10 percent of the pro-rated monthly fee charged for this agreement.
• GovTrack must be credited publicly in your application as the source of the information acquired from us, with a link back to GovTrack.us if possible, in the appropriate place.
• No warranty of any kind is provided for this data and we are not liable for incorrect information in the data or documentation, nor are we guaranteeing the accuracy of the information.
• We are not responsible for any damages resulting from failure to provide access to or faults in the source data and APIs, and you agree to indemnify us harmless from any claims resulting from your use of our data. The maximum amount that we may be responsible for should we be in breach of this agreement is any fee charged for this agreement.
• You may not provide anyone else with the data in bulk or API form.
• Payment is due on a quarterly basis. The service agreement begins on the date following receipt of payment.
• This agreement will renew at the same quarterly fee if you request a renewal prior to 120 days before the end of the agreement, except if we respond declining the renewal 90 days before the end of the agreement.