Gold Mouse Awards

For more than a decade, CMF periodically evaluated all congressional websites and recognized the best with the prestigious Gold Mouse Awards. We also used this research to identify best and innovative practices that could be more widely adopted by House & Senate offices. Through this work, the percentage of Members of Congress who posted their voting record online doubled. In the 113th Congress, CMF also recognized social media practices, focusing on Members who used these tools to further transparency, accountability, and constituent service.

The evaluation of the 113th Congress also marked the last and final time CMF conducted this comprehensive assessment. We will no longer issue Gold Mouse Awards, and instead focus on other areas in which congressional operations and citizen engagement practices need improvement. Learn more about this decision and our new research projects in this blog post. Our extensive guidance on congressional websites, provided below, will continue to assist freshman and veteran offices in creating and maintaining this critical constituent service.

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113th Congress (2013–2014)

The 113th Congress Gold Mouse Awards marked the seventh time since 2002 CMF has evaluated and recognized the best congressional websites. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Mouse Awards went to 70 websites and to 17 Members for their use of social media to further transparency, accountability, and constituent service.

We also offer excerpted sections of the best practices report:

112th Congress (2011–2012)

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111th Congress (2009–2010)

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Previous Years

Gold Mouse Reports produced in 2002 and 2003 were funded by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Reports produced in 2006 and 2007 were funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. PDFs of these four reports, which include lists of the award-winning websites, are provided below.