What is congressional stock trading?
Members of Congress are allowed to trade stocks, but a law called the STOCK Act requires them to report each trade publicly. This lets anyone see what senators and representatives are buying and selling.
What the STOCK Act does
Passed in 2012, the STOCK Act requires members of Congress to disclose their stock trades within a set number of days. The reports are public.
Why people track it
Lawmakers vote on rules and budgets that can affect companies. Watching their trades is a way to spot possible conflicts and to follow what they are buying.
The catch
Reports can lag the actual trade by weeks, and they show dollar ranges, not exact amounts. So the data is useful but not precise to the dollar.
Frequently asked questions
Can members of Congress trade stocks?
Yes, but the STOCK Act requires them to report each trade publicly within a set number of days.
Where can I see congress stock trades?
Stockslash tracks them on the Congress page, with a page for each member showing their trades.