Senate.gov

The official Web site of the United States Senate

More than anything, the Web site of the United States Senate stands as a vast clearinghouse of information, both old and new, about this legislative institution.

The Senate Web site presents in one place a list of all the senators and links to their own Web sites, including contact information. Find out about senate committees and caucuses, as well as legislation and records (including treaties, appropriations bills, bills and resolutions, lobbying disclosure, and the legislative process). The Web site gives visitors a visual treat by showcasing the paintings and sculptures of the Senate, and history buffs can overload themselves with every detail about the Senate's origins, development, powers, procedures, and chronology.

The Senate makes available online information for visitors to the Capitol, the Senate's session schedule, committee hearings, active legislation, and who voted for or against what (for every issue). For those who want to learn about how the Senate operates, the Virtual Reference Desk is a giant online archive of history and information about every aspect of the institution - filibusters, investigations, appropriations, and so much more.

The site even offers an "Is It True That ." page to lay to rest common myths about the Senate. Ever wondered what a "slip law" is, or a "lame-duck session," or a "Christmas tree bill"? The online Senate Glossary will explain the history and meaning of some common - and not-so-common - terms.

With so much archived information, the Web site's search tool is key to helping you drill down to the information you're looking for. But if you're just browsing, you might want to set aside a few hours to absorb all that this informative site has to offer.

Click here to visit senate.gov.