"Notebooks" are documents signed by numerous candidates or elected officials. Each notebook link below comprises a collection of individual documents, which in turn indicate the individual signatories.

• Bill Sponsorships:
  - Members of Congress who write or introduce bills are known as "sponsors."
  - Other members can sign on as "co-sponsors", indicating strong support for the bill.
  - OnTheIssues counts sponsorships as more indicative of elected officials beliefs than votes, because all members of Congress must vote, whereas sponsorships are voluntary.
  - Furthermore, bills are often introduced which never pass or even get to a vote, but we can still infer that members of Congress believe in their content even without a vote.
  - Some bills are introduced in the House; some in the Senate; and some jointly; all three types are in this category.
  - "Resolutions" provide a sense of Congress without a law; "Amendments" alter existing laws; "Bills" create new law; all three types of sponsorships are in this category too.
  • Bills and votes, 2021-2022 (117th Congress major legislation voting records)
  • Bills and votes, 2019-2020 (116th Congress major legislation voting records)
  • Bill sponsorships, 2018-2020 (116th Congress major legislation bill sponsorships)
  • Bill sponsorships, 2016-18 (115th Congress major legislation)
  • Bill sponsorships, 2015-16 (114th Congress major legislation)
  • Bill sponsorships, 2013-2014 (113th Congress major legislation)
  • Ratings on members of 114th Congress (Non-profit groups' evaluations of voting records 2015-2016)
  • Ratings on members of 112th and 113th Congress (Non-profit groups' evaluations of voting records 2011-2014)
  • 2013 Session early bills 113th Congress plus sponsorships from January through February 2013.
  • 2012 Lame Duck Session bills 112th Lame Duck bills (post-Election 2012) plus sponsorships by special election winners and including House member ratings.
  • Congressional bills 2011-2012 112th Congress July 11 to February 2012.
  • Congressional bills early 2011 112th Congress initial bill introductions.
  • January 2011 bills Special collection from the first week of the 112th Congress; these early bills represent members of Congress introducing bills immediately to fulfill campaign promises.
  • Congressional bills 2009-2010 Bill sponsorships leading up to the 2010 Congressional midterm election.
  • 2008 Presidential Contenders' bills Bill sponsorships by the 2008 field
  • Congressional bills 1998-2008 Collection for the 2008 Congressional elections.
  • Congressional bills 1996-2007 Early collection for the 2008 elections.
  • Congressional bills 1993-2008 (Bills introduced prior to the 111th Congress)
  
  

• Surveys:
  Some ratings groups ask specific questions (or infer responses) from candidates and incumbents.
  • 2020 Surveys & Ratings: CC/PVS/AFA for incoming members of 117th Congress rated by numerous organizations.
  • 2018 Surveys & Ratings: CC/PVS for incoming members of 116th Congress rated by numerous organizations.
  • 2016 candidate group ratings Incoming members of 115th Congress rated by numerous organizations.
  • 2012 candidate group ratings Incoming members of 113th Congress rated by numerous organizations.
  • 2013 incoming House Freshmen surveys. Newly elected U.S. House members from the 2012 elections, rated by numerous organizations.
  • 2012 Christian Coalition voter guide. Newly elected candidates from the 2012 House, Senate, and Gubernatorial elections.
  • 2012 Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test.
  • Surveys 2011: Latest survey update through 2011.
  • Surveys: Collection of all surveys in one summary.
  • 2010 Christian Coalition voter guide. From the 2010 Congressional and Gubernatorial elections.
  • 2010 Faith2Action.org voter guide. From "the nation's largest network of pro-family groups."
  • 2010 Project Vote Smart: Congressional Political Courage Test.
  • Contract From America: 2010 House candidates' set of campaign pledges.
  • Contract With America: 1994 House candidates' set of campaign pledges.
  
  

• Signature Bill Sponsorships:
  - For presidential and senatorial candidates, we separate out bill sponsorships so voters can see how the candidates define their "signature issues".
  - A "signature issue" indicates what the candidate considers important enough to spend time writing or co-sponsoring a bill.
  - These are usually the issues on which the candidate will focus during the campaign.
  • 2010 Senate signature bills Bill sponsorships by the 2010 Senate contenders.
  • 2008 Senate signature bills Bill sponsorships by the 2008 Senate contenders.
  • 2008 Presidential signature bills Collection of all bill co-sponsorships by the 2008 Presidential contenders.
    
    2012 Presidential contenders:
  • Pres. Barack Obama's Senate signature bills
  • V.P. Joe Biden's Senate signature bills
  • Rep. Ron Paul's House signature bills
    
    2008 Presidential contenders:
  • Sen. John McCain's Senate signature bills
  • Sen. Hillary Clinton's Senate signature bills
  • Rep. Cynthia McKinney's House signature bills
  • Gov. Mark Sanford's House signature bills
  • Sen. Mike Gravel's Senate signature bills
  • Rep. Bob Barr's House signature bills
  
  

• Memberships:
  Candidates join groups by signing onto pledges, or by associating their names with groups that espouse specific beliefs.
  • Congressional memberships 2012 Including new group memberships leading up to 2012 Congressional election.
  • Congressional memberships 2001-2011 Incumbent membership groups overview.
  • 112th Congress Committee Memberships House members join formal committees for writing bills; membership implies an interest in the topic of the committee.
  • Informal Congressional Groups Congressional Caucuses and Coalitions for expressing common beliefs.
  • Congressional Group Ratings Members of Congress (and candidates) "scored" by political groups.
  
  

• Reports, Rulings, and Letters:
  Other documents which multiple candidates or incumbents sign onto.
  • Governmental Reports: Congressionally-authorized reports and other sponsored reports.
  • Resolutions: Congressional and gubernatorial public resolutions.
  • Resolutions 2011: Including letters leading up to 2012 Congressional and Gubernatorial elections.
  • Letters: Governor's letters to Congress; Congress' letters to Cabinet; and so on.
  • Letters 2011: Including letters leading up to 2012 Congressional and Gubernatorial elections.
  • Supreme Court Rulings: 1992-1999 Court cases, dissents, and Justice opinions.
  • Supreme Court 2011: Including cases focusing on new Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

"Grids" comprise very brief summaries for overviews of candidates and issues.

• Issue Grids:
  Candidate summaries organized by issue topics. ../.htm
  • 2008 Frontrunners: McCain, Obama, Hillary, and Frontrunners.
  • 2008 Presidential: McCain, Obama, Hillary, and third parties.
  • 2004 Presidential: Bush, Kerry, Cheney, Edwards, third parties, and withdrawals.
  • 2000 Presidential: Bush, Gore, Nader, Buchanan, third parties, and V.P.'s.
  
  

• Candidate Grids:
  Issue summaries organized by candidate.
  • 2008 Presidential: McCain, Obama, Hillary, and third parties.
  • 2004 Presidential: Bush, Kerry, Cheney, Edwards, third parties, and withdrawals.
  • 2000 Presidential: Bush, Gore, Nader, Buchanan, third parties, and V.P.'s.

Senate votes on key issues

• Senate votes 2008-2011 (recent Senate voting records)
• Senate votes through 2011 (collection of all recorded votes, including AmericansElect quiz notation)
• Senate votes through 2009
• Senate votes through 2007
• Senate votes through 2003
• Senate votes 1994-1999

House votes on key issues

• House votes 2008-2011 (recent House voting records)
• House votes through 2011 (collection of all recorded votes, including AmericansElect quiz notation)
• House votes 1994-2004
• House votes 1999-2003