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lzinga

US Government Open Data MCP

congress_member_bills

Read-only

Retrieve bills sponsored or cosponsored by a member of Congress. Provide their BioGuide ID to filter by sponsorship type and limit results.

Instructions

Get bills sponsored or cosponsored by a specific member of Congress. Requires the member's BioGuide ID (use congress_search_members to find it).

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
bioguide_idYesMember's BioGuide ID (e.g., 'S000033' for Bernie Sanders, 'C001098' for Ted Cruz)
typeNoBill relationship type (default: sponsored)
limitNoMax results (default: 20)
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already indicate read-only behavior. The description adds value by specifying the two bill relationship types (sponsored/cosponsored) and the need for a BioGuide ID, but does not disclose other behavioral details such as pagination or error handling.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is two concise sentences. The first sentence states the purpose, and the second provides usage guidance. No unnecessary words, well-structured.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The description does not explain what the returned bills contain or if there is pagination. Given the absence of an output schema, more context about the return value would be helpful for an agent to decide if further calls are needed.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, and the schema includes descriptions for all parameters. The description does not add significant meaning beyond what the schema already provides, so baseline of 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states it gets bills sponsored or cosponsored by a specific member of Congress, using a specific verb and resource. It distinguishes from sibling tools like congress_search_bills by focusing on a single member's bills.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description explains the prerequisite (BioGuide ID) and references congress_search_members to find it. It implies when to use this tool but does not explicitly state when not to use it or list alternatives.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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