THOMAS facts for kids
THOMAS was an important online tool. It was the very first website to share information about the United States Congress and how it made laws. The Library of Congress created THOMAS. It started in January 1995, when the 104th Congress began its work. THOMAS was retired on July 5, 2016. Now, a new website called Congress.gov provides this information.
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What Was THOMAS?
THOMAS was a special website. It helped people learn about what the U.S. Congress was doing. You could find lots of details about how laws were made.
What Information Could You Find?
The THOMAS website offered many types of information. It helped students, teachers, and anyone interested in government.
- Bills and Resolutions: These are ideas for new laws. You could read the full text of proposed laws. You could also see short summaries and check their progress. This included knowing if they were passed or rejected.
- Voting Results: You could see how members of Congress voted on different issues. This showed how each elected official represented their state.
- The Congressional Record: This is like a daily diary of everything said and done in Congress. THOMAS let you read these official records.
- Presidential Nominations: When the President chooses people for important government jobs, it's called a nomination. THOMAS provided details on these choices.
- Treaties: These are formal agreements between the United States and other countries. You could find information about these international agreements.
Where Did the Name THOMAS Come From?
The website was named after Thomas Jefferson. He was the third President of the United States. He was also known for his love of books and knowledge.
The name "THOMAS" was also a clever acronym. It stood for "The House [of Representatives] Open Multimedia Access System." This name showed that the website aimed to make government information open and easy to access.
Sharing Information Online
THOMAS allowed users to share legislative information. You could share details about bills or votes on different social networking sites. This made it easier for people to discuss government actions.
