Biographical Information

To develop a profile of a member of Congress it is necessary to compile information from several different sources:

• Basic Personal Profile / About the Candidate--understanding personal information about a member in Congress can provide insight into his/her behavior.
• Legislative Districts and Demographics--knowing a member's state and district provides additional insight into political behavior.
• Key Votes in Congress--knowing how a member votes in committees and on the floor can help determine whether a member's rhetoric actually matches his/her voting behavior.
• Campaign Finance--who provides funding to the candidate during his/her election campaigns?
• Secondary Sources/Political News and Headlines--frequently newspapers, periodical articles, or books provide valuable insights via their profiles of members of Congress.