Open Government Apps

We’re nearing the end of Sunshine Week, and today’s post is about useful apps that help you access open government.

The Sunlight Foundation is a nonprofit organization that uses open data, analysis, and journalism to enhance governmental and political transparency. They have a mobile app called Congress, available for free on both Android and Apple, that helps you track all of the latest Congressional activity. The Foundation also has a number of online tools, including Hall of Justice, an inventory of criminal justice data.

Another aspect of open government information is the use of that information and other government data in technology. Data.gov is the online home of the US Government’s open data. The data and tools available on the website can be useful in conducting research and developing web and mobile applications. Data.gov also provides this list of apps developed using open government data. USA.gov provides a more extensive Federal Government Mobile Apps Directory. You can browse the directory by source agency or by topic. Don’t forget about the eCFR and other great online sources mentioned in Tuesday’s post.