GovQL

What is GovQL?

GovQL is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides AI clients such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and Cursor with direct access to the US Congressional GraphQL API at api.govql.us/graphql, eliminating the need for manual HTTP wiring. It is designed for users who want to query congressional data through AI agents.

How to use GovQL?

To use GovQL, add the server configuration to your client's settings file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json for Claude Desktop, .mcp.json for Claude Code, or Cursor's MCP settings) using the command uvx govql-mcp-server with no required arguments. The server runs as a per-client subprocess over stdio.

Key features of GovQL

• Execute arbitrary GraphQL queries against the GovQL API.
• List all types in the GovQL schema with optional kind filter.
• Describe a type's full details including fields and arguments.
• Returns last_ingest timestamp for data freshness awareness.
• Zero-configuration for end users; optional environment variables.

Use cases of GovQL

• Ask an agent "How did Vermont's two senators vote on the most recent nomination?".
• Ask an agent "Which legislators in the 118th Congress switched parties during their service?".
• Ask an agent "Compare Senator Sanders' voting record to Senator Murkowski's on cloture votes.".
• Ask an agent "Which Democrats most often voted with Republicans in the current Congress?".

FAQ from GovQL

What tools does GovQL provide?

GovQL provides three tools: execute_graphql to run any GraphQL query, list_types to return schema types, and describe_type to return a type's full details.

What are the API limits?

The upstream API enforces a max query depth of 10, max query complexity of ~10 billion points, and a rate limit of 100 requests per 60 seconds per source IP.

How fresh is the data?

Every execute_graphql response includes a last_ingest timestamp. Vote data refreshes hourly; legislator data refreshes daily.

Can I configure the endpoint or timeout?

Yes, via environment variables: GOVQL_ENDPOINT (default https://api.govql.us/graphql), GOVQL_TIMEOUT_MS (default 30000), and LOG_LEVEL (default INFO). All are optional.

Does GovQL require any authentication?

No, the package is zero-config for end users; no API keys or authentication are mentioned in the README.