Political participation is integral to a functioning democracy, but in an age of corporate media, with limited and, often, ill-equipped alternatives, the responsibility of education and information falls on the individual. However, we the people, don’t have a particularly accessible way of doing this, which is where Congress’s official website, congress.gov, provides a useful tool. This website, though at times drab, can be extremely informative, if one knows how to navigate its simple design.

One of the most useful functions this website has is the ability to receive email updates on congresspersons, whenever they sponsor or cosponsor a piece of legislation. This way, one can stay informed on what legislators are attempting to legislate and in doing so you can hold them accountable. You can ‘subscribe’ to however many Senators or House members you want, and each morning you will receive a single email which details what they sponsored or cosponsored, and it describes the bill in a simple way.

Another interesting function is the ability to watch Congress’ various live streams; one can watch the on-goings of the house or senate floor. This can be one of the most informative processes on how bills are presented and passed, as well as the debate over controversial yet important topics.

All of this can be accessed easily and can guarantee an informed political participant. The website is vast and is fun to explore for any particularly interested people. Always use the tools at hand to challenge the powers that be.