python-fiftystates

Python library for interacting with the Fifty State Project API.

The Fifty State Project provides data on state legislative activities, including bill summaries, votes, sponsorships and state legislator information.

python-fiftystates is a project of Sunlight Labs (c) 2009. Written by Michael Stephens <mstephens@sunlightfoundation.com>.

Source: http://github.com/sunlightlabs/python-fiftystates

Requirements

python >= 2.4

simplejson >= 1.8 (will use builtin json module instead on python >= 2.6)

Installation

To install run

python setup.py install

Usage

Some examples:

>>> import fiftystates
>>> ca = fiftystates.State.get('ca')
>>> print ca.name
California
>>> print ca.lower_chamber_name
Assembly
>>> for session in ca.sessions:
...     print session.name
20092010
20092010 Special Session 1
20092010 Special Session 2
20092010 Special Session 3
20092010 Special Session 4

>>> mikes = fiftystates.Legislator.search(state='ca', first_name='Mike')
>>> for mike in mikes:
...     print mike.full_name
Davis, Mike
Eng, Mike
Duvall, Mike D.
Feuer, Mike

>>> dem_mikes = fiftystates.Legislator.search(state='ca',
... party='Democrat', first_name='Mike')
>>> for mike in dem_mikes:
...     print mike.full_name
Davis, Mike
Eng, Mike
Feuer, Mike

>>> bill = fiftystates.Bill.get('ca', '20092010', 'lower', 'AB20')
>>> print bill.title
An act to add Chapter 14.27 (commencing with Section 67325) to Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education.

>>> for sponsor in bill.sponsors:
...    print sponsor.full_name
Solorio, Jose
Block, Marty
Portantino, Anthony
Torlakson, Tom

>>> for action in bill.actions[0:3]:
...     print action
Senate (Committee CS61): Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on  APPR.
Senate (Floor Second Reading): From committee:  Amend, do pass as amended, and re-refer to Com. on  APPR.  (Ayes  5. Noes  0.) (June  23).
Senate (Committee): From committee:  Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on  JUD. Re-referred.  (Ayes  8. Noes  0.) (June  10).

>>> vote = bill.votes[0]
>>> print vote.motion
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
>>> print vote.yes_count, vote.no_count, vote.other_count
7 3 0