How to Refine a Search

What is a facet?

Facets are a convenient way to refine your search results. A facet represents a particular data field and displays all the values contained in that field.

Using Facets

Facets are displayed on the left side of your search results list. Numbers next to each facet value represent the number of matching results within your search results set. Use the + or - widget next to each facet label to expand or collapse the list of facet values. Select a facet value to limit your search results to only items containing that value.

For example, select 112th Congress from the Congress facet to limit your results to items only from the 112th Congress. An X next to a facet value indicates your search has been limited. Select the facet value again to remove the limit and to restore search results for all values. Only one value within a facet can be selected at a time.

Main Facets

Chamber of Congress

Use the Chamber of Congress facet to limit your results to legislation originated in the House or Senate.

Committee

Use the Committee facet to limit your results to legislation associated with a particular House, Senate or Joint committee.

Congress

Use the Congress facet to limit your results to a particular Congress.

Cosponsor

A cosponsor is a Member of Congress who has joined one or more other Members in his/her chamber (House or Senate) to sponsor a bill or amendment. Any number of Members may cosponsor a bill.

Use the Cosponsor facet to limit your results to legislation cosponsored by a particular member.

Legislative Source

Use the Legislative Source facet to limit your results to Legislation or Member Profile pages.

Legislation Type

Use the Legislation Type facet to limit your results to one of the following types:

• Bills (H.R. or S.)
• Amendments (H. Admt. or S. Admt.)
• Resolutions (H. Res. or S. Res.)
• Concurrent Resolutions (H.Con.Res. or S.Con.Res.)
• Joint Resolutions (H.J.Res. or S.J.Res.)
• Laws (Public, Private)

Members by U.S. State or Territory

Use the Members by U.S. State or Territory to limit your search results to Member Profile pages for members from a particular state. Note that making a selection from this facet will automatically eliminate any results from sources other than member profiles.

Political Party

Use the Political Party facet to limit your search results to legislation sponsored by a Member from a particular party or to profiles of Members from a particular party.

Sponsor

Use the Sponsor facet to limit your search results to legislation sponsored by a particular Member.

Status of Current Legislation

Use the Status of Legislation facet to limit your search results to legislation that has reached a particular stage in the legislative process. This facet is available only for the current Congress. Making a selection from this facet will automatically eliminate any results from Congresses other than the most current one.

Subject of Legislation

Legislative subject terms thoroughly describe a measure's substance and efforts. There are approximately 1,000 issue-oriented, entity, and geographic terms. Legislative analysts closely examine each bill and resolution to assign a primary subject term that best describes the entire measure. There are 33 primary subjects.

Use the Subject of Legislation facet to limit your search results to legislation that is primarily about a particular subject matter.