Readers new to the Sunlight Foundation may want to begin by watching the two-minute film on the landing page (entitled "What We Do"). This national, non-partisan, nonprofit organization uses "the tools of civic tech, open data, policy analysis, and journalism" in its attempts to make the government and politics of the United States more "accountable and transparent to all." Among the many resources on the site, readers may especially enjoy the frequently updated blog, which has covered such topics as the money trail of Stephen Colbert's Super PAC, as well as in-depth series like OpenGov Voices, Tech Tuesday, and Outside the Beltway. The site also features Tools and Projects, such as the Influence Explorer, which attempts to help readers "track influence by lawmaker, company, or prominent individual." Finally, readers can scout the site by Issues, such as Campaign Finance Disclosure, Citizens United v. FEC, and Food Policy and Washington. For teachers looking for ways to make civics education come alive, or for any reader with an interest in the multiple layers of the American political process, this site provides helpful tools and a bounty of useful information.
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