We aggregate data from public financial disclosures required under the STOCK Act. Members of Congress must report stock trades within 45 days. We update our database daily as new disclosures are filed.
Are members of Congress allowed to trade stocks?
Yes, but the STOCK Act of 2012 requires them to disclose trades within 45 days and prohibits trading on non-public information gained through their official duties. Enforcement has been limited, and many members routinely file late.
Which members of Congress trade the most stocks?
Trading activity varies significantly. Some members disclose hundreds of trades per year while others trade rarely or not at all. Our performance rankings page shows the most active traders and their returns.
What does the Watchdog feature detect?
Watchdog flags trades where a member of Congress buys or sells stock in a company whose industry falls under the jurisdiction of a committee they serve on — for example, a Senator on the Banking Committee buying bank stocks.
Can I follow what Congress is buying and selling?
Yes. PolitAlpha lets you browse all disclosed trades, filter by politician, stock, party, or sector, and set up a watchlist to track specific members or tickers. Pro subscribers get daily email alerts when new disclosures are filed.
