Transparency

Transparency

Representative government depends on trust.

Citizens should know who operates a civic platform, how it is funded, and how information is produced. AmericanVoters is committed to being transparent about how this platform works and the principles that guide it.

Why Transparency Matters

AmericanVoters was created to help citizens understand what Congress is doing and participate meaningfully in representative government.

Trust is essential for that mission.

This page explains who operates the platform, how it is funded, how legislative briefings are produced, and how user information is handled.

Who Operates AmericanVoters

AmericanVoters is developed and operated by SeniorsUnited, Inc., a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the American safety net and strengthening democratic accountability.

SeniorsUnited was founded on a simple belief: citizens should be able to understand legislation, follow the work of Congress, and communicate with their representatives without needing lobbyists or political insiders.

AmericanVoters was created to provide the tools that make that possible.

Our Mission

The mission of AmericanVoters is to strengthen representative democracy by helping citizens:

• understand what Congress is considering
• follow legislation connected to their concerns
• communicate with their representatives through official channels

The platform is designed to support informed participation between elections.

Funding & Independence

AmericanVoters is supported primarily by individual contributions from citizens who believe in strengthening civic participation.

The platform is not funded by corporations or lobbying organizations.

Contributions help support:

• platform development and maintenance
• research and legislative analysis
• civic engagement tools for constituents

AmericanVoters does not accept funding that would influence how legislation is explained or evaluated.

Editorial Independence

AmericanVoters publishes legislative briefings and explanatory materials to help citizens understand what Congress is considering.

These materials are developed independently and are guided by the civic principles outlined in our Values & Principles page.

They are not written or influenced by political parties, campaigns, corporations, or lobbying organizations.

Our goal is to make legislative activity clearer so citizens can decide for themselves how they wish to engage.

How Legislative Briefings Are Produced

AmericanVoters provides clear, nonpartisan explanations of what Congress is considering — so you can understand the issue and decide for yourself how to engage.

Our approach is simple: start with the official record, and stay grounded in it.

Source-First Approach

Every briefing is built using information from Congress.gov, the official database of the U.S. Congress.

We rely on four parts of the congressional record:

• Bill Text — the actual legal language that defines what would change
• CRS Summaries — nonpartisan analysis from the Congressional Research Service
• Congressional Record — statements and debate from members of Congress
• Related Bills — alternative approaches to the same issue

If something isn't supported by these sources, we don't include it. No source, no statement.

How We Evaluate What It Means

AmericanVoters legislative briefings are designed to help citizens understand not just what a bill says — but what it could mean in practice.

We look at legislation through consistent civic lenses, including:

• Constitutional principles — rights, responsibilities, and the role of government
• Representative accountability — how decisions reflect public responsibility
• Fiscal sustainability — potential long-term financial impact
• Practical outcomes — how policies may affect everyday life
• National commitments — obligations to current and future generations

Our goal isn't to tell you what to think, but to make legislation easier to understand so you can decide how you want to engage.

Data & Privacy

AmericanVoters collects only the information necessary to operate the platform and provide civic engagement tools.

User information is used to:

• help match legislation to user concerns
• deliver messages through official congressional communication systems
• improve the platform's functionality

AmericanVoters does not sell or trade user data.

For additional details, please see our Privacy Policy.