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

Grab state metadata:

>>> 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
20092010 Special Session 5
20092010 Special Session 6
20092010 Special Session 7

Lookup legislators by name:

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

Lookup legislators by name and party:

>>> 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

Search bills:

>>> bills = fiftystates.Bill.search('agriculture', state='vt')[0:3]
>>> for bill in bills:
...     print "%s %s %s" % (bill.state, bill.bill_id, bill.title)
vt H.0193 AN ACT RELATING TO THE ADDITION OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND MARKETS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
vt S.0132 AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL FUNDING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
vt H.0429 AN ACT RELATING TO A TUITION CREDIT FOR STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

Grab information about a specific bill:

>>> 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.

List a bill's sponsors:

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

List a bill's actions:

>>> for action in bill.actions[0:3]:
...     print action
Secretary of State: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter   402, Statutes of 2009.
Governor: Approved by the Governor.
Governor: Enrolled and to the Governor at   5 p.m.

View a bill's votes:

>>> vote = bill.votes[0]
>>> print vote.motion
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Business and Professions.
>>> print vote.yes_count, vote.no_count, vote.other_count
9 0 0

Lookup a legislative district:

>>> district = fiftystates.District.get('ny', '2009-2010', 'lower', '106')
>>> print district.legislators[0].full_name
Ronald J. Canestrari

Lookup a district by latitude and longitude:

>>> district_geo = fiftystates.District.geo('ny', '2009-2010', 'lower', -73.675451, 42.737498)
>>> district.name == district_geo.name
True

Get contact info for legislators:

>>> print district.legislators[0].roles[0].contact_info[0].phone
518-455-4474